ICESCO and Al Akhawayn University strengthen Africa-Arab-Asia scientific cooperation

Monday 28 September 2026 - 21:15

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and Al Akhawayn University in Morocco (AUI) are joining forces to establish the Ibn Battuta ICESCO Centre for Scientific Diplomacy on the university’s campus in Ifrane.

The initiative is designed to strengthen the role of scientific knowledge in international dialogue and public policy, with a particular focus on cooperation linking Africa, the Arab world and Asia.

Rather than limiting scientific diplomacy to academic exchanges, the new centre is intended to create a space where researchers, diplomats, students and policymakers can work together on issues that increasingly require cross-border solutions.

Science at the heart of diplomatic cooperation

Climate change, water and food security, public health, artificial intelligence governance, energy transition and the protection of cultural heritage are among the challenges that underpin the centre’s mission.

By bringing scientific expertise into diplomatic and policy discussions, ICESCO and AUI aim to help their member states make greater use of research and knowledge when designing public policies and addressing international challenges.

The centre will also contribute to strengthening institutional capacities in scientific diplomacy, while encouraging closer interaction between scientific communities and diplomatic actors.

Ifrane as a meeting point for researchers and policymakers

Located on the Al Akhawayn University campus in Ifrane, the centre will benefit from the university’s international academic environment and multidisciplinary structure.

Its activities will revolve around three principal areas.

The first will focus on training, with the aim of preparing diplomats to better understand contemporary scientific and technological developments while encouraging scientists to participate more actively in international dialogue.

The second will promote academic and scientific cooperation, including joint missions and the organization of an annual high-level forum bringing together specialists and decision-makers.

The third will concentrate on scientific expertise, providing ICESCO and its member states with research-based knowledge that can support public decision-making.

An international network built over three decades

The decision to establish the centre in Ifrane reflects the international reach developed by Al Akhawayn University since its creation in 1995.

According to the information provided by the university, AUI has established bilateral agreements with 312 partner universities in 54 countries. Its international mobility programmes have involved 9,246 students, including 3,571 international students hosted in Ifrane and 5,675 AUI students who pursued study opportunities abroad.

The university also has a highly international academic community. International professors account for an average of 40% of its faculty, with the current faculty representing 56 nationalities.

AUI participates in several international higher-education networks, including the International Association of University Presidents, the Council of Independent Colleges, the Global Liberal Arts Alliance, the International Student Exchange Program, the African Engineering and Technology Network, the Association of American International Colleges & Universities, the LearningWell coalition and the Guangzhou International Sister-City Alliance.

These partnerships provide an existing international framework that the new centre can draw upon to expand exchanges among universities, researchers and institutions across different regions.

Building on expertise in international studies

Al Akhawayn University also brings established academic experience in international relations and diplomacy.

Its programmes include a Bachelor in International Studies, a Master in International Studies and Diplomacy, and a Master in North Africa and Middle Eastern Studies (NAMES). These programmes attract students and faculty members from different countries, creating an academic environment suited to the centre’s international mission.

The Ibn Battuta ICESCO Centre can therefore connect existing educational programmes and international partnerships with a broader platform for scientific diplomacy.

Connecting regions through knowledge

The new centre is expected to create opportunities for researchers, students, diplomats and public officials from the Islamic world to engage with counterparts from other parts of the international community.

Its establishment in Ifrane places scientific diplomacy within a university setting while giving it a wider international purpose. Through training, research cooperation and policy-oriented expertise, the initiative seeks to build stronger links between scientific knowledge and international decision-making at a time when many major global challenges increasingly require coordinated responses.