The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO, formerly ISESCO) is a specialized organization that operates under the aegis of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and is concerned with fields of education, science, culture and communication in Islamic countries in order to support and strengthen relations among Member States. The Organization's headquarters is located in Rabat, Morocco, and its director general is Dr. Salim M. Almalik.
ICESCO was founded by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in May 1979. With 53 member states, the working languages of ICESCO are Arabic, English and French. ISC The Islamic World Science and Technology Citation and Monitoring Institute (ISC) () is an information and research center in Shiraz, which is an organization that provides services related to scientific research and publication, citation indexing, and scientific evaluation to the academic community of the Islamic world among 57 Islamic countries. The institute annually announces rankings of the top universities in Iran and the Islamic world. The Islamic World Science Citation Center (ISC) was established in 2008 in Shiraz, Iran, with the support and endorsement of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO – now ICESCO).
Overview On 30 January 2020, the 40th session of the Executive Council of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, held in Abu Dhabi, State of the United Arab Emirates, adopted the modification of the name of the Organization into "Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization" (ICESCO). In this regard, Dr. Salim M. Almalik, ICESCO Director General, stated that the modification of the name of the organization aims to clarify the nature of its missions, and open wide prospects for its presence at the international level. The Director General also highlighted that the new name accurately reflects the nature of the civilizational mission of ICESCO in the fields of education, science, culture and communication, as well as its purposes and objectives.
ICESCO's objectives are "to strengthen and promote cooperation among the Member States in the fields of education, science, culture and communication; consolidate understanding among peoples inside and outside Member State; contribute to world peace and security through various means; publicize the true image of Islam and Islamic culture; promote dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions; encourage cultural interaction and foster cultural diversity in the Member States, while preserving cultural identity and intellectual integrity."
Presentation organs ICESCO includes three organizations:
The General Conference – is held once every three years. The executive council – consists of representative for each Member State, being versed in education, science, culture or communication The General Directorate – is headed by a director general. The General Conference elects the director for a three-year term.
Member states The Charter of Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stipulates that every full Member State of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) shall become a member of ICESCO upon officially signing the Charter, and having completed the membership legal and legislative formalities and informed, in writing, the General Directorate of ICESCO. A State which is not a full member, or is an observer member of OIC, cannot become member of ICESCO.
ICESCO consists of fifty-three Member States, along with three Observer States, out of the fifty-seven Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation – OIC. ICESCO Member States are listed below according to their Arabic alphabetical order. +FlagNameDate of AccessionRepublic of Azerbaijan1991Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan1982Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan2003State of the United Arab Emirates1983Republic of Indonesia1986Republic of Uzbekistan2017Republic of Uganda2012Islamic Republic of Iran1992Islamic Republic of Pakistan1982Kingdom of Bahrain1982Brunei Darussalam1985People’s Republic of Bangladesh1982Republic of Benin1988Burkina Faso1982Republic of Tajikistan1993Republic of Chad1982Republic of Togo2002Republic of Tunisia1982People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria2000Republic of Djibouti1982Kingdom of Saudi Arabia1982Republic of the Sudan1982Republic of Suriname1996Syrian Arab Republic1982Republic of Sierra Leone1984Republic of Senegal1982Federal Republic of Somalia1982Republic of Iraq1982Sultanate of Oman1982Republic of Gabon1982Republic of the Gambia1982Republic of Guyana2014Republic of Guinea1982Republic of Guinea Bissau1984State of Palestine1982Republic of Kazakhstan1996State of Qatar1982Union of Comoros1982Kyrgyz Republic1996Republic of Cameroon2001Republic of Cote d’Ivoire2001State of Kuwait1982Republic of Lebanon2002State of Libya1984Republic of Maldives1982Republic of Mali1982Malaysia1982Arab Republic of Egypt1984Kingdom of Morocco1982Islamic Republic of Mauritania1982Republic of Niger1982Federal Republic of Nigeria2001Republic of Yemen1983 The acronym ICESCO is formed from the initials of the Organization's name: IslamiC World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
References
External links Official ICESCO website Official OIC website