Al Akhawayn University in Morocco (AUI) and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) today announced the establishment of the Ibn Battuta ICESCO Center for Science Diplomacy, to be based on Al Akhawayn University’s campus in Ifrane.
The agreement establishing the Center was signed on September 21, 2026, in New York, on the sidelines of the 2026 United Nations Science Summit, by Dr. Salim M. Al Malik, Director-General of ICESCO, and Dr. Amine Bensaid, President of Al Akhawayn University.
Through this initiative, the two institutions aim to position science as a driver of dialogue, cooperation, and informed public decision-making across Africa, the Arab world, and Asia. The Center will notably contribute to strengthening the capacity of ICESCO Member States to leverage scientific knowledge in support of diplomacy and public policymaking.
At a time when the world is facing challenges that transcend national borders—including climate change, water and food security, public health, artificial intelligence governance, the energy transition, and the preservation of cultural heritage—science diplomacy is opening new avenues for international cooperation.
The Ibn Battuta ICESCO Center for Science Diplomacy will focus on three main areas: educating a new generation of diplomats equipped to address these challenges, as well as scientists engaged in international dialogue; developing academic and scientific cooperation projects, including joint missions and an annual high-level forum; and producing scientific expertise to support ICESCO and its Member States.
This initiative is deeply aligned with the values and DNA of Al Akhawayn University. Since its establishment, the University has been guided by a strong belief that education and openness to the world are drivers of progress, dialogue, and sustainable transformation. Al Akhawayn has also consistently placed internationalization, academic excellence, and the development of responsible leaders at the heart of its mission. Hosting the Ibn Battuta ICESCO Center for Science Diplomacy builds on this ambition by creating a space where researchers, students, policymakers, and international stakeholders can meet, exchange perspectives, and work together to develop responses to the major challenges of our time.
The Center will be jointly led by ICESCO and Al Akhawayn University and will also involve the Moroccan National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, as well as the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation. An international advisory board bringing together scientists and practitioners from Africa, Asia, and the Arab world will support and guide the Center’s work.