The Education Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the 4th meeting of the Hamdan Global Forum for Excellence organized by the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance on the EFQM-Hamdan Education Model.
The meeting, which took place on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, via videoconference, aimed to introduce the EFQM-Hamdan Education Model and its role in enhancing the quality of education to help academic leaders and institutions adopt a leading model for educational excellence and establish specific standards to achieve academic objectives. The Model also helps educational institutions identify an administrative system capable of generating innovative tools and initiatives to improve the educational system, in cooperation with the European Foundation for Quality Management.
The meeting emphasized that the EFQM-Hamdan Education Model is based on strategic and operational performance, which makes it the ideal framework for assessing the alignment of the school’s ambitions for the future with its current practices and ability to address challenges. The Model encourages various schools and educational institutions in the United Arab Emirates and beyond to work according to three fundamental orientations: understanding the school’s importance and roles, finding ways to achieve its objectives and realize its strategy, and focusing on previous accomplishments and future goals.
Dr. Koumbou Boly Barry, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, along with other education experts in the sector, represented ICESCO at the meeting.
The Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World (FUIW) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a meeting with representatives of several universities, institutes and colleges offering education in arts, theatre and music in the Islamic world. The meeting aimed at discussing arrangements for launching the Network of Theatre, Film and Performing Arts Training Institutions in FUIW Member Universities, which seeks to foster cooperation among faculties, institutes and colleges, and promote exchange among students and researchers.
The meeting took place on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at Hassan I University in Settat, Morocco, and via videoconference. The parties reviewed the educational experiences of participating universities, institutes and colleges and explored avenues of cooperation to ensure the success of the Network of Theatre, Film and Performing Arts Training Institutions in FUIW Member Universities.
Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General (DG) and FUIW Secretary-General began the meeting with welcoming remarks, noting that the Network is part of the Draft Statute of the Leagues of Parallel Faculties. This project is geared towards promoting linkages among Member Universities and developing joint scientific and research plans that would facilitate exchange among researchers and students.
ICESCO DG added that this project aims to enhance cooperation among colleges, institutes and schools offering education in theater, cinema and performing arts in FUIW Member Universities, achieve convergence of visions, and standardize relevant terminology. The Network also seeks to encourage the creation of specialized research centers and foster cooperation with peer colleges and institutes in international universities.
For her part, Dr. Khadija Essafi, President of Hassan I University, emphasized that arts play an instrumental role in education by creating harmony among students, honing their skills, increasing their self-confidence and igniting their creativity and developing their critical thinking skills. “Digital transformation offers unprecedented possibilities for interaction and artistic exchange. This made it necessary for universities to lay greater focus on arts, which is the overarching objective of the Network,” added Dr. Essafi.
Dr. Omar Halli, Advisor to ICESCO Director-General for the FUIW, stressed that the Network will serve as a link between theatre, film and performing arts training institutions and students in the Islamic world. The Network will unleash students’ artistic potential in various areas of specialization and have a positive impact on societies.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Ms. Jumana Suleiman Ghunaimat, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Kingdom of Morocco. The meeting discussed ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and Jordan in the educational, scientific and cultural fields.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Tuesday (February 15, 2022), at ICESCO headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik congratulated Ms. Ghunaimat on assuming her functions as Jordan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, wishing her every success.
He reviewed ICESCO’s major programs as part of its new vision and strategic orientations, which are based on openness and cooperation with all parties to serve the Member States and Muslim communities around the world, highlighting ICESCO’s interest in promoting the culture of foresight, consolidating the values of peace, civilizational dialogue and coexistence, building capacities of women and youth, and urged the Member States to invest in space sciences and benefit from modern technologies and artificial intelligence applications for achieving sustainable development.
For her part, Ms. Ghunaimat commended ICESCO’s roles in supporting its Member States in the Organization’s areas of action, stressing the keenness of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to continue constructive cooperation with ICESCO.
The meeting also brought together Dr. Mohammed Zine El Abidine, Head of Culture and Communication Sector; Ms. Ramata Almami Mbaye, Head of Human and Social Sciences Sector; and Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.
Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Morocco, to discuss the development of cooperation and the remarkable partnership between ICESCO and Pakistan in the Organization’s fields of action.
During the meeting, held on Friday, 11 February 2022, at ICESCO’s headquarters, in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik stressed the Organization’s willingness to enhance communication with the competent authorities of its Member States in order to build fruitful cooperation through practical programmes and activities with positive and measurable outcomes based on the priorities and needs of each Member State.
The meeting reviewed the major future programmes and activities scheduled in cooperation between ICESCO and Pakistan. The two parties also discussed several cooperation proposals in education, science and culture, as well as training and capacity building for youth and women in the fields of technology, innovation and arts.
For his part, the Pakistani Ambassador commended the leading role of ICESCO, praising the cooperation and partnership relations between the two parties. He also stressed the willingness of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to cooperate with ICESCO in many fields and the Embassy’s willingness to cooperate with the Kingdom of Morocco within the framework of the proclamation of Rabat as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2022.
Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the launching ceremony of Al-Quds Al-Sharif Award for Journalistic Excellence in Developmental Media, within the cooperation framework between Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency, the Moroccan Higher Institute of Information and Communication and the Institute of Modern Media of Al-Quds University, in Palestine.
During the ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Higher Institute of Information and Communication, in Rabat, on February 10, 2022, the parties signed a framework agreement to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the Institute and Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency, the executive body of Al-Quds Committee, which is chaired by His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
The Award aims to foster future generations’ awareness of the challenges facing the Palestinian cause and encourage media and communication students in the Kingdom of Morocco and Al Quds, Palestine, to produce media content reflecting the reality and future of Al Quds. The Award is open for the students at the Moroccan Higher Institute of Information and Communication and the Institute of Modern Media of Al-Quds University. It includes three categories, namely television survey, radio survey and printed press release.
The Center for Strategic Foresight at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) held a roundtable meeting to present the outlines and preliminary findings of its study, prepared by a host of international experts and specialists on the “Possible Futures of the African Continent.” The meeting aimed to identify the best practices considering the new global trends and their consistency with the African reality and better understand the necessary factors to achieve the desired progress in the African continent.
At the outset of the meeting, held on Thursday, 10 February 2022, via videoconference, Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, gave an address wherein he indicated that ICESCO includes 26 African countries in its membership, adding that it strives to meet their needs through various programs for the benefit of different groups, especially women and youth.
He added that ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight’s Study on the “Possible Futures of the African Continent” represents an opportunity to examine the current scenario, consider opportunities at the continental level and clarify ways to develop Africa. “ICESCO is committed to contributing to the efforts geared towards providing an innovative solution to the major challenges facing Africa towards 2050. It also plays its pivotal role in promoting the culture of foresight to build a better African future,” stressed ICESCO DG.
Afterward, the participants in the meeting, which was moderated by Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight, and his team, reviewed the findings of the study. Dr. Alioune Sall, Executive Director of the African Futures Institute, South Africa, stressed the importance of analyzing the current situation in Africa to understand the process of change in the continent and identify its future prospects. Dr. Jacy Karoy Sibena, Assistant Professor at the School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, indicated that innovation and technological development are still below the required level in Africa, particularly with the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the economy.
For his part, Dr. Mohammed Tariq, Professor at the Faculty of Legal, Economic and Social Sciences, Hassan II University of Mohammedia, Kingdom of Morocco, gave a presentation on the future of youth in Africa after the Covid-19 pandemic, wherein he stressed that the continent’s youth face many challenges related to health care, education, unemployment and terrorism, adding that youth are at the forefront of digital transformation.
Dr. Karim Benkahla, Professor at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Tunis, Tunisian Republic, reviewed the social, climatic, economic and security risks facing Africa, the factors of change, namely education and human capital, and the possible scenarios for the future of the continent. Ms. Sandra Coulibaly Leroy, Programming and Evaluation Department at the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF), touched on the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on cultural action and creative industries in Africa.
In his closing speech, ICESCO DG reaffirmed that Africa has a great and prosperous future, pointing out the importance of the expected recommendations of the study in contributing to the development of African countries to be at the forefront of developed countries. Afterward, the floor was open for the participants to exchange remarks and ideas.
The Culture and Communication Sector at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in Second African Conference for Promoting Peace, in Nouakchott, in cooperation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, under the theme “Promoting Peace Worldwide”, under the patronage of H.E. the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and with the participation of Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, as well as several ministers, ambassadors, scholars, thinkers and representatives of international institutions and organizations.
Dr. Nami Salihi, Expert at Culture and Communication Sector represented ICESCO at the conference. During the opening session, held on February 8, 2022, the Mauritanian President gave his official speech, followed by the presentation of Dr. Abdullah bin Bayh, wherein he highlighted the elements and foundations of peace and their close relationship with the values of compassion and interdependence advocated by the true Islamic religion, stressing that the misunderstanding of Islam and its purposes push some extremists to adopt violence instead of communication and dialogue. The session also included several presentations and interventions.
The Conference’s working sessions will span over three days, focusing on the African heritage related to peace and the role of youth in developing the culture of peace and security in the region.
Ambassador Khaled Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilization Dialogue at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting with Mr. Mahmoud Siral-Khatim Al-Houri, Minister of Education of the Republic of the Sudan, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and the Sudan in the field of education.
During this meeting, held on February 8, 2021, at the headquarters of the Sudanese Ministry of Education, in Khartoum, Ambassador Fathalrahman conveyed to Mr. Mahmoud Sirr Al-Khatim El-Hawri the greetings of Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of ICESCO and his congratulations on assuming his duties as the Minister of Education of the Sudan. The meeting also touched upon ICESCO DG’s planned visit to the Sudan and its arrangements.
Ambassador Fathalrahman reviewed the Organization’s vision and action strategy, which relies on openness and modernization, as well as ICESCO’s efforts in the fields of education, through adopting an approach based on the participation of Member States, through the National Commissions, in designing, launching and implementing programs and initiatives according to the needs of countries.
For his part, Mr. Al-Houri thanked ICESCO and its Director-General, expressing his willingness for cooperation between the Ministry and the Organization in the fields of education.
The meeting also brought together Ms. Wafaa Sayed Ahmed Nour-Eddine, Secretary-General of the Sudanese National Commission for Education, Science and Culture.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), emphasized the need to restore universal human values that must prevail over all ideologies that divide peoples, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that this can be achieved through the promotion of peace culture and the development of policies that promote dialogue among civilizations, which are paramount for social cohesion and sustainable development.
This statement was part of an address delivered on his behalf by Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy DG, during the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Group of Friends meeting, which took place on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at the United Nations headquarters in New York and via videoconference. The high-level meeting was attended by Mr. Miguel Moratinos, High Representative for the UNAOC, Mr. Jose Manuel Albarís Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, along with other representatives of states and international organizations. The meeting aimed at reviewing the progress achieved in the implementation of UNOAC’s initiatives and programmes for 2021 and discussing the current year’s plans.
In his address, ICESCO DG commended the efforts exerted in the areas of peacebuilding and promoting social cohesion and peaceful dialogue, stressing that ICESCO’s vision is based on addressing peace issues and their cross-cutting dimensions relating to the economic, scientific, technological, cultural, environmental, psychological and social fields that foster common universal human values.
ICESCO DG added that the Organization spares no effort in integrating the values of cordiality and mercy into its Member States’ educational curricula, reviewing ICESCO’s major initiatives geared towards promoting a culture of peace, namely the International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, held on May 27, 2021, that issued several recommendations and called on the United Nations to proclaim April 21st as the World Day of Mercy.
Dr. AlMalik concluded his address by reaffirming the Organization’s keenness to work closely with all partners towards achieving world peace by harnessing the power of educational programmes and civilized, inter-cultural dialogue to build peaceful, prosperous and sustainable societies.
Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the Islamic Center for the Development of Trade’s 20th Hybrid Meeting of Economic Advisors of the OIC Member States Embassies accredited to Morocco, held on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, in Rabat, to discuss the latest developments in trade and economy in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The participants reviewed the developments in the field of environmental trade in the OIC Member States, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economic sector and the program of the public and sectoral exhibitions, fora, seminars and bilateral meetings that the Islamic Center for the Development of Trade has scheduled for 2022.
The meeting also considered the implementation of the Trade Preferential System Agreement in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the new regional context, and reviewed the Trade Information Network for Islamic Countries (TINIC), stressing the need to further develop the economies of Member States. The participants commended the OIC’s efforts to support the Member States most affected by the pandemic.
The meeting, which saw the participation of the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade as well as the delegations of diplomatic missions and bodies, witnessed the signing ceremony of memoranda of understanding with the partners of the Islamic Center for the Development of Trade.
