Category: News

The sixth edition of the Vice Chancellors’ Forum of Universities in the Islamic World kicked off at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, on Monday, 23 June 2025. The event was organized in partnership with the Higher Education Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (HEC), and in collaboration with the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) and Baku State University in Azerbaijan, under the theme: “Reimagining Higher Education in the Islamic World: Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Impact.”

The two-day forum brings together high-level participants, including several ministers and approximately 150 distinguished university vice chancellors, deans, and vice-deans from higher education institutions across the Islamic world. Discussions focus on the future of higher education, artificial intelligence, open and distance learning (ODL) systems, and the role of public funding and resource mobilization in achieving the concept of sustainable universities.

The opening session began with a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by a speech by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, who affirmed the Organization’s commitment to strengthening academic partnerships at regional and international levels, promoting scientific research, and encouraging student mobility. Dr. AlMalik emphasized that the sixth edition of the Forum offers an effective platform for building resilient universities that serve both students and society, especially in light of pandemics, climate change, conflicts, and rapid technological developments that have pushed universities to become spaces of resilience.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik explained that by 2030, many jobs will be replaced by new ones in fields such as data science, cybersecurity, digital ethics, and intelligent systems. This shift requires universities in the Islamic world to respond and take the lead by developing curricula that prepare learners to adapt to a world shaped by algorithms, automation, and AI applications.

For his part, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, highlighted the importance of keeping pace with 21st-century driving forces such as artificial intelligence and climate change to shape the future. Prof. Iqbal noted that innovation is now the force reshaping industry, economies, and the global standing of nations, adding: “History teaches us that countries that fail to invest in minds will inevitably fall behind those that do.”

In his remarks, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission, announced Pakistan’s pledge to offer over 1,300 scholarships to youth from the Islamic world under a joint programme developed in collaboration with ICESCO. The initiative aims to equip youth with the necessary skills to become scientists and leaders contributing to their countries’ development.

In a recorded statement, Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, stressed that the current global context, marked by escalating climate crises and widening inequality, requires a fundamental rethinking of how we prepare for the future.

Following this, Ms. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former President of Mauritius, emphasized the critical role universities play in graduating future leaders and contributing to societal development by applying scientific research and translating it into tangible outcomes.

The Forum’s sessions began with a ministerial panel on the future of higher education, artificial intelligence, and distance learning, featuring the participation of Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives; Mr. Saleh Al Ghoul, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education of Libya; Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of HEC; Dr. Lidia Borrell-Damián, Secretary General of Science Europe; and Mr. Munim Anees, Minister of State for Higher Education in the Maldives.

On the sidelines of the Forum, three academic memoranda of understanding were signed. The first was between the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World, under ICESCO, and Foundation University Islamabad (FUI); the second between FUI and Cadi Ayyad University in Morocco, to promote knowledge exchange and joint scientific research; and the third between Khartoum’s Al Neelain University and FUI, to strengthen academic cooperation between the two institutions.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Munim Anees, Minister of State at the Ministry of Higher Education of the Republic of Maldives, on the sidelines of the Sixth Session of the Vice Chancellors’ Forum of Universities in the Islamic World, held at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat. The two parties discussed ways to promote cooperation in the field of education, support university and higher education, and foster scientific research.

At the beginning of the meeting, held on Monday, June 23, 2025, Dr. AlMalik highlighted ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, and reviewed the major programs and projects it is implementing across the Islamic world. He emphasized that the Organization relies on direct communication with its Member States to design programs and initiatives that respond to each country’s specific needs and aspirations.

The Director-General also reaffirmed ICESCO’s readiness to provide the necessary support to the Maldives to advance education, science, and culture by jointly implementing innovative projects and programs.

For his part, Mr. Munim Anees commended ICESCO’s efforts in developing its fields of competence in Member States and expressed his eagerness to enhance bilateral cooperation with the Organization, particularly through the development of educational programs and the establishment of partnerships with universities across the Islamic world.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Dawas Tayseer Rashid Dawas, Chairman of the ICESCO Executive Council, on his appointment as Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as he is set to assume his duties in April 2026.

On this occasion, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, expressed his great pleasure at this honourable appointment, praising Dr. Dawas’s high competence, extensive experience, and wise leadership. Dr. AlMalik also commended the insight, expertise, and professionalism Dr. Dawas demonstrated during his tenure as Chairman of the Organization’s Executive Council, which ensured productive and harmonious sessions that earned the admiration and appreciation of all members.

ICESCO reaffirms its deep pride in Dr. Dawas and expresses confidence that his rich expertise and constant dedication will make him a valuable addition to the OIC and a strong supporter of joint Islamic action.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) concluded the third edition of its “Mishkat Al-Arabiya for Continuing Training” program, organized in cooperation with the Hamdan bin Rashid Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences. The program culminated in a regional workshop entitled “Creativity in Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers,” held on 18–19 June 2025.

The workshop, hosted in the Mishkat Al-Arabiya Hall at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, marked the final phase of this annual program. It benefited 212 educators from 15 countries, including Chad, Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, Senegal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Morocco.

Led by education experts Dr. Mohamed Ismaili Alaoui and Dr. Samir Jafar, the workshop introduced participants to the concept of creativity in teaching, outlined its general principles, presented key theories explaining creativity, and trained them in the use of innovative strategies and techniques for teaching Arabic. The workshop also proposed engaging tools tailored for learners who speak other languages.

The trainers delivered practical sessions on developing creative thinking in vocabulary acquisition and grammar usage, enhancing listening and speaking skills, and improving reading and writing abilities through digital platforms, artificial intelligence applications, and the generation of creative ideas for language skill development.

The total number of participants of the third edition of the program (2024–2025) reached 2,016, through a series of workshops designed to enhance teacher competence and responsiveness to the needs of Arabic language education in multilingual and multicultural contexts.

Dato’ Seri Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education, honoured Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), during an official dinner held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Education Ministers Roundtable in Langkawi on 19 June 2025.

The recognition was given in appreciation of ICESCO’s pioneering role in advancing higher education across its Member States, and in acknowledgment of Dr. AlMalik’s efforts in steering the Organization toward innovation, strategic partnerships, and future-focused transformations in education.

The Malaysian Minister also expressed his country’s appreciation for ICESCO’s notable participation in the ministerial meeting, which serves as a key platform for coordinating education policies and enhancing regional cooperation.

This recognition reaffirms ICESCO’s growing international standing and its leadership role in shaping the future of higher education in the Islamic world.