The third Islamic Conference of the Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research opens in Kuwait with the participation of the representatives of 57 countries

This event is held upon the invitation of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -ISESCO- under the theme of "Scientific and technological excellence ... key to progress and prosperity".

The opening session was presided over by Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister, on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait and Patron of the Conference.

For his part, Dr. Adel Taleb Al-Tabtabae, the Kuwaiti Minister of Higher Education, delivered an address where he welcomed the members of the conference and the representatives of regional and international organizations. He also stressed the importance of the issues and subjects put on the conference agenda, stating that they are of particular concern both to us, and to developing societies in all countries of the world, in general.

Furthermore, he pointed out that fostering scientific and technological cooperation among the states of the Islamic world is one of the requisites to develop our societies in all fields, considering that the development of scientific and technological research is the basis for success of an integrated, balanced sustainable development.

Dr. Tabtabae added that, "Developing mechanisms for the implementation of the strategy for the development of biotechnology, adopted by the conference in its previous session is a major step forward. The draft strategy for developing higher education and scientific research is by all academic, artistic and scientific standards an important achievement we have longed for since many years ago. This strategy will be a support to the strategy for developing education in the Islamic countries, which will be submitted at the upcoming General Conference of ISESCO to adopt its amended version."

Further still, the Kuwaiti Minister underscored that the subject of the prevention of migration of scientific competencies from the countries of Islamic world- the conference will debate a draft action plan on it- is an issue of major concern to developing countries. It is also a subject that has many ramifications and inter-related components and causes, which need to be considered from a wide angle, and not only from a merely scientific and academic one.

There is no doubt that the conference will devote a great interest to this action plan, considering the vital aspect of the issue and the pressing need to address it and to come out with a judicious resolution thereon that takes in account these considerations.

In an address delivered on this occasion, Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization said that the Islamic world is expecting today the outcome of this conference, as it looks forward to any Islamic common initiative or action. Hence, 'we will seek to come up in this conference with positive results which will consolidate the great action carried out by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a specialized body of the Organization of the Islamic Conference -OIC- enjoying the confidence and support of all the Member States.'

ISESCO Director General added that development of science and technology is the crucial factor conducive to comprehensive sustainable development, that scientific and technological excellence is key to progress and prosperity in all fields, and that cooperation and concerted efforts in this vital field is a collective duty and a fundamental necessity for upgrading the Islamic world and opening up to the good prospects offered by scientific and technological progress in the world.

Moreover, Dr. Altwaijri stated that scientific research in our countries is below the required level, in a way that hinders it from contributing to scientific and technological progress in all areas of science. As a matter of fact, the rate of public expenditure on scientific research in most Member States does not exceed 1% of the Gross Domestic Product.

Worse still, this rate sharply decreases in some Member States to be at or below 0.5%. "Such a situation, he said, "seriously affects the present and future of the Islamic world, which puts increased responsibility on us towards the people of our Ummah, who aspire to resume a new civilizational cycle on the grounds of the scientific basis on which hinges the progress of any nation."

In addition, Dr. Altwaijri pointed out that, "our Ummah has the lowest levels of scientific and technological development among all nations and suffers from a poor scientific infrastructure at all levels. It has also a fragile scientific, civilizational edifice which is supposed to constitute the solid basis for the general civilizational edifice. Likewise, our Ummah witnesses a lack of interest in keeping pace with the latest scientific and technological developments.

"Accordingly, we ought to rise to the great challenges we are facing, through strengthening and developing our universities quantitatively and qualitatively, enhancing scientific research and extending its scope to the maximum, and consolidating Islamic solidarity and elaborating it in action plans and strategies, which is part of the competence of this conference and the top priorities of the Islamic Organization."

Then, Dr. Ibrahim Zarrouk Sharif, Secretary of the General People's Committee for Higher Education in the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and Chairman of the Second Islamic Conference of the Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, gave an address in which he highlighted that the overriding importance of the field of higher education and scientific research becomes more and more visible in the life of peoples and mankind at large, especially after the great scientific revolution underwent by contemporary world since the second half of last century, and the ensuing breakthrough in communication and information.

During the opening session, Dr. Ali Akbar Salhi, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, pointed up the challenges facing the States of the Islamic world in the field of education, and knowledge and information technology. He stressed the need to step up efforts to face these challenges through activating the mechanisms for cooperation and keeping pace with the latest developments in that field.

By the same token, he highlighted the importance of the contribution being made by ISESCO and the Federation of the Universities of Islamic World to support the efforts of the OIC Member States, particularly in the field relating to the development of higher education and the promotion of scientific research. He also stated that the OIC Ten-Year Programme of action has dedicated a special care to the issues relating to the promotion of education, higher education and scientific research in the Islamic world.

The floor was then taken by Dr. Rasha Al Sabah, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education in Kuwait. She stated that few Islamic countries have overcome backwardness in science and that the majority of Islamic countries are trying to follow suit, stating that the main cause lies in the scientific divide. She also emphasized the importance of bridging this gap through earnest action, solidarity and mutual cooperation.

In appreciation of the efforts they have been making to support ISESCO, Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, awarded at this opening session ISESCO Decoration to Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister; Dr. Adel Tabtabae, Minister of Higher Education; Dr. Ibrahim Zarrouk Sharif, Secretary of the Libyan General People's Committee for Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Dr. Rasha Al Sabah, Under-Secretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Higher Education.