Rabat (UNA-OIC) – The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the Euromed University of Fez (UEMF), Morocco, signed an agreement to establish ICESCO Chair on “Women in Science: Artificial Intelligence and the Future” at the said university.
The Chair aims at promoting scientific research on AI and encouraging the participation of girls and women in the field through training sessions, workshops, and PhD research, as well as preserving the foresight culture.
ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim M. AlMalik and UEMF President Dr. Mostapha Bousmina signed the agreement, on Monday at the Organization’s headquarters, in Rabat, in the presence of several heads of sectors and departments and advisors at ICESCO, and several university officials, including Dr. Maha Kamira, the Chair Coordinator.
In a statement at the signing ceremony, Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed that the Chair is part of ICESCO’s Celebration of 2021 as the Year of Women. “The Chair reflects the productive cooperation between ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight and UEMF in promoting the foresight culture, encouraging the ethical and sustainable use of AI given its equal opportunities for both genders to enhance their personal and professional skills,” he added.
The ICESCO chief stated that the establishment of the Chair responds to the need to build the capabilities of young girls and enhance their contribution to AI as well as to other new fields.
For his part, Dr. Bousmina expressed his happiness for the signing of this agreement, stressing that it will strengthen the Euromed School of Digital Engineering and Artificial Intelligence (EIDIA), which is the first if its kind at the African level. He also pointed out that the Chair aims to conduct research works on AI, attract students from ICESCO Member States, and open up to the world through agreements with centers from various countries.
Dr. Maha Kamira stated that she is proud to be the Coordinator of ICESCO Chair, adding that she will exert every effort in promoting the culture of foresight and training women in the field of AI.
For his part, Dr. Kais Hammami, Director of ICESCO Center for Strategic Foresight, indicated that the Chair will provide great and equal opportunities for women and men to contribute to achieving sustainable development in their countries.
The agreement provides the Chair to develop international partnerships and training on research, innovation, and AI-related undertakings for the future by enhancing the participation of researchers, conducting studies and research works within the Chair’s priorities, and attracting young researchers from ICESCO Member States to develop AI algorithms and technologies for the benefit of their countries.