ICPSR Strategies
For achieving their long-term development, all Islamic countries need to develop their own capabilities for Science, Technology and Innovation. It is through this path that they will be guided by their national strategies in order to enhance their current level of development in Science and Technology.
For acquiring the hallmarks of Knowledge Based Economies – high levels of skills & education, lifelong learning and innovation – Islamic countries need to secure the requisite investment in human capital, support the development of industries, and work toward the achievement of sustainable development.
Human capital development in science and technology education is fundamental to national economic expansion. It is an important factor that enables the creation of a scientifically and technologically progressive and modern society, thus leading to a more sustainable development. Therefore, all Islamic countries should prioritize the development of a sound educational base that caters for improvement of human capital in S&T in order to generate highly qualified engineers, technicians and scientists capable of working at the leading edge of research.
The industrial sector is the prime end user of the S&T manpower. For this purpose, Member States need to settle a plan for upgrading their scientific and technological infrastructures based on their core sector, increase their R&D expenditures and introduce measures to ensure that their R&D system is fulfilling the requirements of their industrial sector.
By 2030, all Islamic countries should achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through focusing on the WEHAB priority areas – water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity.
The Centre also works on activating mechanisms relating to the implementation of strategies outlined by ISESCO and adopted by the Member States, including
1- The Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Muslim Countries.
2- The Strategy for Developing ICTs in the Islamic World.
Following assessment of the achievements of the first and second Three-Year Plans conducted under the 2010-2018 Medium Term Plan. The ICPSR centre is focusing in the years 2016-2018 on one sector-specific priority: Supporting STI policies, and promoting the youth competitiveness. The aim being to largely contribute to reach the first strategic goal of ISESCO 2016-2018 Action Plan: Involving the youth in the drive to boost joint Islamic action and achieve sustainable development. This priority includes two projects which mainly aim to promote prosperity for all citizens of Member States, uphold peace and security and achieve sustainable development in such a way as to ensure a better integration in the economy of knowledge which largely relies on information and communication technologies. The two projects are:
-Project on supporting STI research strategies.
-Project on promoting knowledge transfer-based Research & Development for greater youth employability.
The two projects will basically target women and the youth since the youth are a digital generation who grow in a digital environment that pushes them to the heart of the knowledge community. As such, the youth may become a great resource for Member States as they may help speed up and improve their progress.
In this regard, Member States countries should strive, through mastering modern technologies, to optimally benefit from their younger generations to achieve sustainable development and address the burning issue of joblessness among the youth who seek empowerment and good living-conditions. With the aim of speeding up the pace of socioeconomic development for Member States, the Centre will work to boost the young peoples skills and upgrade their capacities to make them very active elements in the process of change within our societies.