The Seventh Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research (ICMHESR-7) has been held on 18-19 December 2014 in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco. Organised by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Conference was attended by Ministers and High-level Officials of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the OIC Member Countries as well as representatives from OIC and other international institutions to discuss issues pertaining to higher education and scientific research in the member countries. Mr. Hüseyin Hakan Eryetli, Director of Statistics and Information Department, represented SESRIC at this conference.

SESRIC contributed to the ICMHESR-7 with its recent report on Education and Scientific Development in OIC Member Countries 2014. Mr. Eryetli briefed the participants on the important findings of the report. He highlighted important facts and figures on the current state of education and scientific development in OIC member countries such as the participation rates at different levels of education (primary, secondary and tertiary), completion ratios, educational resources, inbound-outbound student mobility, number of researchers, expenditure on research and development, patents, scientific publications, innovation and high-technology exports. 

The ICMHESR-7 also hosted the (Launch of the Final Report of the “Atlas of Islamic World Science and Innovation (AIWSI)” Project). Lauded by the Fourth Session of the ICMHESR held in Azerbaijan in October 2008, the aims of the project were to provide an insightful overview of science and science-based innovation across the Islamic World, and independent and authoritative assessment of how these capabilities are changing; and to analyse the opportunities and barriers to further progress across OIC Member Countries. Five country case studies have been prepared and published ever since. SESRIC and the Royal Society have been co-managing this project in collaboration with international partners namely the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Qatar Foundation (QF), OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH), Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), British Council, Nature, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI). In this occasion, the findings of the Final Report have been co-presented by Mr. Eryetli, on behalf of SESRIC, and Dr. Julie Maxton, Executive Director, on behalf of the Royal Society.

Furthermore, the Conference also examined a report on the implementation of the document on “Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for Universities in Islamic Countries” and the draft guiding paper “Towards Building Knowledge Economies in ISESCO Member States”. The participants were also briefed on a project of “TAFAHUM Programme on Exchange of Students, Faculty and Researchers among Universities in the Member States” and the draft proposal on the establishment of “OIC Collaborative Efforts in Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Education (OIC-CECE)”. At the closing session, the conference adopted the Rabat Declaration on Developing the Higher Education and Scientific Research System in the Muslim World.

For more information please visit www.isesco.org.ma.

Documents

• Agenda (English)
• SESRIC Report on "Education and Scientific Development in the OIC Member Countries 2014" (English)
• Final Report of the “Atlas of Islamic World Science and Innovation” Project (English)