The 121st session of the Executive Board of ALECSO kicked off on May 14, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and ran over two days.
Chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the meeting was attended by the members of the Executive Board and representatives of 22 Member States. The Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science hosted the meeting whose agenda featured various topics, initiatives and proposals related to ALECSO’s fields of action.
In his opening speech, the Chairman of the Executive Board, H.E. Mr. Hani bin Muqbil Al-Muqbil, conveyed to all participants the greetings of HH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture, Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. He noted that the current meeting is being held amid the exceptional and painful circumstances experienced by the Palestinian people. He stressed that the Executive Board condemns and categorically rejects the barbaric war that has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians, including children, women and elderly people, and destroyed hospitals, places of worship, infrastructures, schools, and educational and cultural facilities. He reaffirmed the Executive Board’s categorical rejection of the continuation of the aggression, occupation, and forced displacement of the population of Gaza.
Mr. Al-Muqbil indicated that the relentless moves undertaken the Saudi chairmanship of the Executive Board proceed from a future-oriented vision designed to strengthen Arab ranks and consolidate the constant principles in a way that enables Arab countries to meet the challenges with which they are confronted.
Al-Muqbil pointed out that the Executive Board’s work has been driven by ambition, perseverance, patience, and a sense of achievement. The Board, he added, has spearheaded the process of modernization and the restructuring of programs and initiatives in order to bring them in line with the challenges, aspirations and opportunities of the 21st century. He noted, in this regard, that the “ALECSO Business and Partnership Forum”, held in Tunis in January 2024 at the initiative of Saudi Arabia, was a successful experience by all standards, reflecting how joint action has succeeded in making this initiative, so important for the present and future of ALECSO, come true.
For his part, the Director-General of ALECSO, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, opened his speech by expressing his sincere thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and HRH Crown Prince, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as to the Saudi people, for generously hosting this meeting. He expressed hope that this session would be an important milestone in enhancing the role and status of ALECSO, so that it can pursue its mandate with competence and efficiency.
The Director-General extended his deep thanks to HH Prince Badr bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture, for providing appropriate conditions for holding the current session of the Executive Board and the General Conference in the city of Jeddah. He highlighted the programs and activities implemented by ALECSO during the period between the previous and current Executive Board sessions, indicating that the percentage of completion has reached 70%. Foremost among these activities was the launch of the “ALECSO Business and Partnership Forum” in January 2024 in Tunis, Tunisia, at the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Director-General added that ALECSO has recently organized the fourth edition of the “Arab Code Week”, under the theme of “Smart Applications of the Arabic Language,” to which King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language was invited. This edition saw the participation of nearly 250 teachers from across the Arab World. ALECSO also prepared an educational guide for the teaching of AI technologies in primary and secondary schools in Arab countries, and is currently working on developing an Arab charter for AI ethics.
The Director-General indicated that ALECSO has given significant attention to joint files for the inscription of Arab intangible cultural heritage properties on World Heritage Lists. ALECSO also participated in the World Conference on Culture and Arts Education, convened by UNESCO in February 2024, and hosted by the United Arab Emirates.
To enhance cooperation with Arab National Commissions, ALECSO received the second batch of trainees from Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation “Misk” during the period from January 15 to March 19, 2024. This training program was designed to build joint Arab action skills and involve trainees in preparing and implementing activities.
The Director-General stressed that ALECSO is looking forward to cooperating with King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language to complete the implementation of its project related to establishing the Unified Arabic Terminology Bank, about to be officially launched, which will enhance efforts to establish the Arab Translation Observatory in Riyadh.
The Executive Council addressed a number of issues, challenges and solutions in the fields of education, culture and science, and discussed new partnerships that would open up broader prospects for Arab countries.
