The Future of Education, Science, and Culture International Organizations Forum (FESCIOF) convened on 8-9 March 2023, in Riyadh, hosted by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO). The event united ALECSO, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in addition to more than 100 international organizations, and leveraged the power of collaboration to drive meaningful impact for the future of international organizations in the fields of education, science, and culture.

The FESCIOF, under the theme of “Together for Impact in the 21st Century,” brought together more than 65 speakers in 20 panel sessions aimed to create an environment for meaningful dialogue and the sharing of ideas in order to develop a unified vision and discover potential opportunities for collaboration.

Representatives of international organizations operating in the fields of education, culture and science evaluated the discussions during the Forum and praised its successes, recognizing the value that partnerships between civil society and the private sector bring to the world.

Costanza Farina, Director of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in the Arab States, stressed the need to continue working together to create a “Together for Impact” roadmap to achieve common goals and create a better future for all. She emphasized the interdependence of the three sectors of education, culture, and science, asserting, “we cannot advance on education if we do not advance in science and in culture at the same time.” Farina called for greening education and getting every learner climate ready and stressed the importance of gateways to public digital learning.

Greening education is an important step towards creating a more sustainable future, including creating more environment-friendly learning spaces, and introducing climate change education into the curriculum to equip learners with the skills necessary and knowledge to tackle the challenges posed by climate change. Gateways to public digital learning are an important step towards increasing access to educational and digital resources such as eBooks and online courses, for learners of all backgrounds. Greening education also involves developing digital tools, such as virtual classrooms, to make learning more accessible for learners with disabilities. These initiatives can help to bridge the digital divide and ensure that everyone has access to the same educational opportunities.

Pull quote: Costanza Farina, Director of UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office in the Arab States, “we cannot advance on education if we do not advance in science and in culture at the same time”.

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