Category: News

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), began an official visit to Turkmenistan on Thursday, 11 December 2025, to participate in international activities marking Turkmenistan’s 30th anniversary of permanent neutrality, International Day of Neutrality, and the declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust.

Dr. AlMalik commenced his visit to the capital, Ashgabat, by taking part in the flag-raising ceremony at the Neutrality Monument, in the presence of several heads of state and government, ministers, representatives of international organizations, and high-level guests.

Following that, Dr. AlMalik visited the Exhibition of Economic Achievements of Turkmenistan, which highlights the country’s economic and developmental progress, particularly in the sectors of transport, energy, and communications, and reflects its commitment to internationally recognized positive neutrality.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, to discuss ways of strengthening strategic cooperation between ICESCO and Azerbaijan. The meeting also reviewed the outcomes of the international conference held in Baku to launch ICESCO’s Artificial Intelligence Index for the Islamic world, organized in collaboration with the Ministry and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

During the meeting, held on Tuesday, 9 December 2025, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Baku, Dr. AlMalik commended Azerbaijan’s commitment to promoting technology, innovation, and knowledge dissemination, and reaffirmed ICESCO’s readiness to expand joint initiatives aimed at supporting digital education and scientific research in Member States.

For his part, Mr. Amrullayev stressed the Ministry’s keenness to deepen cooperation with ICESCO in developing artificial intelligence policies, training teachers, and building youth capacities across Member States.

The meeting featured in-depth discussions on programs and initiatives jointly implemented for the benefit of the Islamic world, particularly in artificial intelligence technologies, as well as an overview of future action plans between both parties in this regard.

Attending the meeting on behalf of ICESCO were Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector; Dr. Ahmed Said Ould Bah, Advisor to the Director-General; Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku; and Mr. Murad Aliyev, Expert at the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences signed an updated framework agreement regarding the “Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Fund to Support ICESCO.” This Agreement establishes a comprehensive reference framework regulating the strategic partnership between the two sides and enhancing institutional coordination for the development of education in Islamic world countries.

The Agreement was signed on Monday, 8 December 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, and Mr. Humaid Mohammad Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation. It aims to support a range of educational and pedagogical programs implemented by ICESCO in its Member States, with particular emphasis on teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers through advanced technologies. The Agreement also intends to bolster programs of the “Mishkat” platform for distance training, launched jointly by the two parties.

Furthermore, the Agreement seeks to achieve a set of strategic objectives, most notably supporting the quality of education and advancing educational systems in Member States, strengthening pedagogical capacities, exchanging knowledge and expertise, in addition to promoting a culture of educational excellence.

It is noteworthy that the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Fund to Support ICESCO constitutes an effective and sustainable mechanism for financing joint programs and projects that align with ICESCO’s priorities and the Foundation’s directions in the fields of education, scientific research, and educational excellence.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing cooperation in the fields of cultural heritage preservation and intercultural dialogue on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the Foundation’s headquarters in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, and Ms. Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, in the presence of Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, and a group of the Foundation’s leaders.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik affirmed ICESCO’s interest in building international partnerships to foster cultural understanding, noting that cooperation between the two parties will open broad horizons for joint projects focusing on creativity and cultural exchange.

For her part, Ms. Raimkulova emphasized that the memorandum constitutes a strong framework for joint action to preserve the region’s rich cultural heritage, noting the Foundation’s commitment to cooperating with ICESCO to implement innovative programs that promote awareness of heritage and support scientific research.

The MoU provides for the launch of joint initiatives that contribute to the protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, the promotion of cultural education, and the strengthening of ties between ICESCO Member States and Turkic States.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, launched the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World to measure trends in AI development among the Member States. The Index was launched during an international AI conference held on Monday, 8 December 2025, in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

The conference was attended by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General; His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Supreme Chairman of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences; Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in Azerbaijan; and Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, along with senior officials and experts from across the Islamic world.

In his opening address, Dr. AlMalik stressed that the ICESCO Index will assess countries’ readiness, guide policy-making, and foster creativity in the field of Artificial Intelligence, noting that the Index project, which currently includes nine leading countries in the Islamic world, is part of efforts to implement the Riyadh Charter on Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World, which serves as the ethical and strategic reference for ICESCO Member States.

Dr. AlMalik further explained that the development of AI technologies should be based on three principles, namely adapting educational processes for AI applications by disseminating guidelines and training teachers to integrate AI tools, empowering women and girls in STEM, and creating an environment conducive to innovation and creativity in the Member States.

In her remarks, Ms. Leyla Aliyeva emphasized the importance of accurately assessing the AI impact on societies and guiding youth to seize the opportunities offered by this technology while raising awareness of its risks.

For his part, Mr. Emin Amrullayev stated that AI offers broad possibilities for building fair and inclusive educational systems, stressing the need for ethical responsibility in applying this technology in education.

The conference then moved to panel discussions featuring contributions from Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO’s Center for Foresight and Artificial Intelligence, and Ms. Ouiam Chafik from the same Center. At the close of the conference, the Baku Declaration on the AI Index for the Islamic World was adopted, commending the ICESCO Index and highlighting AI’s potential to improve education, healthcare, cultural heritage preservation, economic development, and environmental management.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO); H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Supreme Chairman of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences; and Ms. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the Republic of Azerbaijan, attended the award ceremony of the Fourth Edition of the Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Education Facilities in the Islamic World. The award ceremony was held on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the International Conference on the Launch of the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World, in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

On this occasion, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the outstanding partnership between ICESCO and the Hamdan bin Rashid Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, which has yielded pioneering initiatives that have opened new paths in education in the Islamic world. These include, Dr. AlMalik further explained, the launch of the “Mishkat” platform, benefiting thousands of teachers around the world, the creation of academic and research chairs and educational poles, and the launch of this prestigious award.

Moreover, the Director-General noted that the renewal of the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Fund agreement reflects the significance of this partnership aimed at supporting ICESCO’s programs and initiatives in the fields of education and training in the Islamic world. He concluded his remarks by expressing his deepest gratitude and appreciation to Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid for the Foundation’s support of ICESCO’s initiatives and programs.

The winners of the Fourth Edition of the Prize were the Hadramout Foundation – Human Development Foundation from Yemen for its “Model Schools Project,” the Heydar Aliyev Foundation from Azerbaijan for its “Educational and Social Support Program,” and the Moroccan Foundation for Primary Education for its project aimed at equipping primary education classrooms in rural, semi-rural, and urban areas. The representatives of the three winning institutions received USD 100,000 each in addition to an honorary shield commemorating the occasion.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of the Republic of Azerbaijan signed, on Monday, 8 December 2025, a sponsorship and funding agreement for the project “Educational and Social Support for Displaced Girls and Boarders” in the Republic of Niger. The signing took place on the sidelines of the International Conference to Launch the ICESCO AI Index for the Islamic World, held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, in the presence of Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of ICESCO’s Regional Office in Baku, and Mr. Anar Alakbarov, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik expressed his appreciation for Azerbaijan’s continued support for ICESCO’s activities and programs across the Islamic world, and commended Baku for its distinguished hosting of numerous international conferences organized by the Organization.

For her part, Mrs. Leyla Aliyeva extended her gratitude to ICESCO for its initiatives and programs in the fields of heritage preservation, valorization, and the promotion of Azerbaijani culture.

Both parties affirmed that the close relations between ICESCO and the Foundation, chaired by Azerbaijan’s First Vice-President, Mehriban Aliyeva, constitute one of the pillars of the solid strategic partnership between the two sides.

It is worth noting that ICESCO and the Foundation previously implemented a project to support the education of displaced girls in the Republic of Burkina Faso. It provided essential educational resources, guidance, and life-skills training for girls affected by displacement and economic hardship.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Labour Center of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in promoting human capital development and enhancing social protection in Member States.

The memorandum was signed on Monday, 8 December 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan, by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Mr. Azar Bayramov, Director-General of the OIC Labour Center, in the presence of senior officials from both parties.

Following the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that this partnership represents an important step toward reinforcing ICESCO’s role in supporting Member States and coordinating joint efforts to achieve sustainable development in the labor and education sectors, while building resilient, inclusive, knowledge-based societies.

For his part, Mr. Bayramov stated that the memorandum lays a solid foundation for practical cooperation with ICESCO, enabling the OIC Labour Center to contribute more effectively to developing labor policies, improving working conditions, and expanding social protection mechanisms across Member States.

The OIC Labour Center serves as a strategic institution aimed at enhancing labour conditions, promoting employment opportunities, and fostering social protection systems across its Member States. It emphasizes the crucial need to ensure decent work, sustainable social protection, and poverty reduction within OIC Member States.