The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), signed on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, a partnership agreement with King Abdulaziz University and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Academy of Arab Poetry of Taif University, at the headquarters of the Emirate of Makkah Region, in the presence of H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region.  

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), and Dr. Abdulrahman Obaid Al-Youbi, President of King Abdulaziz University, signed the partnership agreement, which provides for cooperation between the two parties to support scientific research in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication. The agreement also aims to hold fora and meetings in the fields of education and science, fund twenty chairs of ICESCO Chairs Programme, provide the necessary technical assistance for conducting and publishing educational and scientific research and studies, implement specific activities and programmes, and encourage creative young talents in the field of scientific research.

Dr. AlMalik and Dr. Yousef Asiri, President of Taif University, signed the MoU, which sets forth cooperation between ICESCO and the Academy of Arab Poetry in supporting Arab poetry, promoting women’s poetry, and celebrating the World Poetry Day through cultural and artistic activities. The MoU also aims at publicizing Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal International Prize for Arabic Poetry, holding an international forum of poetry, networking the academies, associations and clubs of poetry, publicizing the works of great poets, translating poetry anthologies to world languages, promoting the role of poetry and poets in the civilizational dialogue, enhancing the values of tolerance, synergy and solidarity, and sharing scientific and academic expertise and capacity-building experiences.