The Executive Council of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) has commended the organization's "Future of Education, Science, and Cultural International Organizations Forum" initiative, launched in collaboration with the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science. The two-day conference will take place in Riyadh on March 8 and 9 under the theme "Together for Impact in the 21st Century." It is the first event of its kind in the world, and its unique structure is due to it being held for the first time since the establishment of the organization more than 50 years ago. The Executive Council expressed its gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their kind approval and full support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host the conference. The Council expressed its appreciation for the support and interest of Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science, praising his directives to all work teams to fully support the success of hosting the conference. During an extraordinary session held yesterday to review the latest preparations for the "Future of Education, Science, and Cultural International Organizations Forum," chaired by the Chairman of the Executive Council of ALECSO, Hani bin Megbel Al-Megbel, the Executive Council emphasized the importance of supporting the conference to achieve its objectives, which include fostering cooperation among countries and various sectors of international and regional organizations to bring about real, tangible change. The conference also aims to develop partnerships and better coordination of efforts at all levels to ensure integration and explore opportunities available in the future in light of 21st-century data. The Council, with the participation of ALECSO Director-General Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar and members of the Executive Council from 21 countries, reviewed the idea of the "Future of Education, Science, and Cultural International Organizations Forum," which arose from the increasing challenges faced by international and multilateral organizations from countries and civil society to fulfil their tasks and achieve their goals in times of economic, social, and political changes. The meeting of the extraordinary session pointed out that despite the contribution of international and regional organizations in achieving progress, peace and improving living standards all over the world since their establishment more than 50 years ago, challenges such as lack of funding and changing geopolitical conditions pose a challenge to their work, which requires taking initiatives to identify the current opportunities through the cooperation of the largest private sector system and the growing global awareness of the importance of this multilateral cooperation. Secretary-General of the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al-Bulahid delivered a speech noting that preparations to hold the conference are facing a critical juncture where work is ongoing to make the final touches to the program, content, and list of participants. The council said that the conference represents a qualitative leap for the organization, taking it to new horizons, reflecting the significant and outstanding efforts of the organization over the past two years since Saudi Arabia's presidency of the Executive Council. According to the meeting of the extraordinary session of the Executive Council, the "Future of Education, Science, and Cultural International Organizations Forum" provides a credible and recognized global platform for dialogue, drawing a roadmap for unifying the efforts of international and regional organizations through a system that allows seizing opportunities for the future and linking the current system to a larger system with its effective sides. The conference will enable dialogue among all main stakeholders and cooperation to identify new pathways that enhance the impact and allow reaching solutions via new partnerships. ALECSO works under the umbrella of the Arab League and with national commissions in all Arab countries for the best of their communities at the local and regional levels in a bid to achieve intellectual and practical rapprochement in the fields of education, culture and science by providing qualitative initiatives and valuable partnerships with various sectors and concerned institutions to raise the cultural level within the Arab world.
