Category: News

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), visited Kazakhstan’s National Space Center on Thursday, 18 September 2025. He was received by Mr. Malik Olzhabekov, Vice-Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

During the visit, the Vice-Minister gave a comprehensive presentation on the Center’s missions and achievements in the fields of space science and related technologies, introducing the various departments of the Center, the latest developments in spacecraft manufacturing, the preparation of astronaut missions, as well as the Center’s industrial innovations over the years and its major space industry achievements.

For his part, Dr. AlMalik emphasized that ICESCO attaches particular importance to space science and focuses on training young people in the Islamic world to explore this vital field. He also pointed out that the Organization supervised the organization of a training program at Almaty University, which introduced participants to small satellite manufacturing techniques, with broad participation from Member States’ representatives and young people from the Islamic world.

The ICESCO Director-General also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Kazakh leadership and the officials of the National Space Center for their pioneering efforts in supporting space science and developing its technologies, stressing the Organization’s keenness to strengthen future partnerships in this field.

For his part, Mr. Olzhabekov indicated that strengthening cooperation among ICESCO Member States in the field of space science would keep pace with the successful experiences of countries that have been able to build pioneering international partnerships in this sector.

Dr. AlMalik was accompanied during the visit by Dr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector at ICESCO, and Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of the Organization’s Baku Regional Office.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Mr. Erlan Karin, State Counselor of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Astana.

During the meeting, which took place on Thursday, 18 September 2025, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the programs and initiatives implemented by ICESCO in Kazakhstan in recent years, along with the positive results achieved in the fields of education, science, culture, and heritage protection. He emphasized the strategic importance of Kazakhstan as one of the active Member States, endowed with a rich history and flourishing civilization.

Dr. AlMalik further stressed that cooperation with Kazakhstan opens vast prospects, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence and its requirements, which he described as the language of our time and one of the key drivers of future development. He praised the strong interest of H.E. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in this vital field, noting that it aligns with ICESCO’s vision and fosters greater convergence of perspectives and joint projects between both sides.

For his part, Mr. Erlan welcomed the development of close cooperation with ICESCO and affirmed Kazakhstan’s readiness to advance practical partnerships in the fields of artificial intelligence, as well as the protection, preservation, documentation, and inscription of cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations.

He also commended the substantial progress ICESCO has made over the past five years, marked by its remarkable international presence, numerous international awards, and recognition by several global institutions as a leading organization in creativity and innovation.

At the close of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik extended an invitation to the State Counselor to attend the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and its Applications, scheduled to be held in Baku this coming December, as well as to participate in ICESCO’s General Conference, to be convened early next year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The State Counselor welcomed both invitations, reaffirming his keen interest in making Kazakhstan a significant partner in ICESCO’s journey to exercise foresight and craft innovative solutions.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation, has launched a regional language training initiative, the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud International Language Training in Central Asia. The launch took place during a ceremony held in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, from 15 to 18 September.

The program aims to develop curricula for teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers in the countries of Central Asia and to enhance the efficiency of educational personnel working in this field. The program will begin in Kyrgyzstan and later expand to Bashkortostan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by several academic, political, and diplomatic figures, including Dr. Mirlan Dyldaev, Rector of Bishkek State University (BSU); H.E. Mr. Ibrahim bin Radi Al-Radi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Kyrgyzstan; and Dr. Abdulaziz Almagushi, Assistant Director-General of the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation, along with university professors and representatives of local institutions.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Anas Hussam Saeed Al-Nuaimi, Expert at ICESCO’s Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers, highlighted the importance of this program in creating broad career opportunities for Kyrgyz students across sectors such as diplomacy, commerce, tourism, and education. He further emphasized its role in strengthening Arab-Kyrgyz relations at all levels.

On the sidelines of the launch, ICESCO, BSU, and the Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation held meetings to discuss avenues for future cooperation. Additionally, specialized lectures were delivered to students of the university’s Arabic Language Department.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW), in partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation of Morocco, launched two trainings on Thursday, 18 September 2025, under the program “Pedagogical and Digital Capacity-Building of Moroccan Universities (ReCOMP-ES).”

The program will benefit 240 early-career assistant professors in Moroccan universities and is based on a modern approach designed to strengthen competencies in pedagogy, didactics, and digital education. It focuses on equipping professors with innovative and effective teaching methods by integrating digital tools across all stages of learning, thereby improving teaching performance and ensuring more comprehensive, high-quality education for students.

Dr. Omar Halli, Adviser to ICESCO Director-General for the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World, explained that the program will enable new professors and researchers to acquire digital teaching skills and adopt innovative pedagogical methods that enhance the quality of higher education. For his part, Dr. Khalid Berrada, Project Coordinator, Director of ICESCO’s Open Education Chair at Mohammed V University in Morocco, emphasized that this initiative represents a significant step in supporting digital transformation in universities and in fostering a culture of innovation and knowledge-sharing among universities.

The two trainings will be delivered in six Moroccan universities, divided into two groups. The first includes Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra, Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakesh, and Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Tetouan. The second includes Chouaib Doukkali University in El Jadida, Hassan I University in Settat, and Hassan II University in Casablanca.

This program aligns with the 2030 Vision of ICESCO and FUIW, which focuses on digital transformation in economic, environmental, and educational sectors, particularly higher education, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 4 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Turkic Academy signed a memorandum of understanding for joint action in the fields of education, science, culture, and heritage protection, on Thursday, 18 September 2025, at the Academy’s headquarters in Astana, Kazakhstan. The MoU was signed by Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, and Dr. Shahin Mustafayev, Academy President.

Following the signing ceremony, the two parties held a meeting to discuss prospects for cooperation in the fields of science, education, and heritage preservation and conservation, during which they agreed to launch joint programs and projects aimed at serving Member States and to organize scientific and cultural seminars, conferences, and fora.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Abdulhakeem AlSenan, Director of the Organization’s Baku Regional Office.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, with His Eminence Sheikh Nauryzbay Haj Taganuly, Grand Mufti of the Republic of Kazakhstan, to explore prospects for strengthening cooperation between the Organization and the Muftiate of Kazakhstan. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, hosted by the Center for Interfaith Dialogue in the capital, Astana.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik emphasized the Organization’s keenness to support all its Member States, including Kazakhstan, as a key partner in implementing ICESCO’s programs. He pointed out that this Congress represents an important opportunity to foster dialogue and understanding among various cultures and religions.

The Director-General also reviewed several initiatives that could be jointly developed by both parties, including the initiative “Read It, to Understand It”, which aims to promote a culture of conscious reading as an entry point to a deeper understanding of the Holy Quran, in addition to other projects that strengthen partnerships between ICESCO and Kazakh religious and scientific institutions.

For his part, H.E. Grand Mufti Sheikh Nauryzbay Haj Taganuly praised ICESCO’s pioneering role in addressing the issues of the Islamic world in the fields of education, science, culture, and media. He stressed the importance of building upon the fruitful cooperation already established between the two sides, noting the positive impressions left by his previous visit to the Organization’s headquarters and the remarkable efforts and valuable initiatives he observed.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to form a joint working group to prepare draft practical projects that will advance future cooperation, with the aim of consolidating shared human values and reinforcing the role of religious and cultural dialogue at both regional and international levels.