A 10-yeas action programme for science development in Islamic States
A ten-year action plan for science and
technology development was approved at the third Extraordinary Session of the
Islamic
A committee
of top Islamic figures set up in 2003 and a meeting of Muslim scholars and
intellectuals held in
-
Improve the
quality of human capital and reduce the technology gap between the Islamic
community and the developed world by enhancing the level of Research and
Development activities.
-
Lack of
national science and technology development strategies
-
Low levels of
commitment of funds to R&D
-
Weak
university-industry collaboration, human resources problems
-
Insufficient
research infrastructures
Ten-year
action programme
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Effectively improve and reform higher education
institutions and curricula, link postgraduate studies to the comprehensive
development plans of the Islamic World. At the same time, priority should be
given to science and technology and facilitating academic interaction and
exchange of knowledge among the academic institutions of Members States.
- Urge the member States to strive for quality education that promotes creativity, innovation, and research and development.
- Assimilate highly-qualified Muslims within the Muslim World, develop a comprehensive strategy in order to utilize their competencies and prevent brain migration phenomenon.
- Call upon Islamic countries to encourage research and development programmes, taking into account that the global percentage of this activity is 2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and request Member States to ensure that their individual contribution is not inferior to half of this percentage.
- Study feasibility of creating an OIC Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements by Muslim scientists.
- Encourage public and private national research institution to invest I technology capacity-building.
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Review the performance of the OIC-affiliated universities
so as to improve their effectiveness and efficiency, and call for participation
in the two Waqfs (Endowments) dedicated t the two
universities in
- Urge the IDB to further enhance its programme of scholarships for outstanding students and HI-Tech specializations aimed at developing the scientific, technical, and research capabilities of scientists and researchers in the Members States.
The action
plan calls the organisation of Islamic conference (OIC) member countries to set
targets and specific indicators to be achieved in the long and medium
terms. For the year 2015 the number of
experts and scientists should reach 800 per million, 30% of students between
ages 18 and 24 should have the opportunity to enter into universities, and the percentage of Gross
Domestic Product for research and development (R &
D) should become 1.2 %. The targets and
indicators for the least developed countries would be one-third of the pervious
The action
plan also proposes the preparation of national science and technology
strategies in OIC Member States; establishment of centres of excellence;
increasing vocational training; using of modern technologies to promote
education, such as long distance learning, linking scientists to industry;
establishment of an OIC R&D Fund to support Member States’ projects on a
cost sharing basis.
The action
plan calls the oil producing countries to channel part of the revenues
generated from increased oil prices into their national R&D activities with
a view to supporting their long-term sustainable development through generating
new sources of wealth and expertise.
The action
plan recommended the promotion of corporations within OIC Member States to assist
inventors to develop and patent their inventions. Islamic Development Bank
(IDB) may fund training programmes for scientists in different fields in the
OIC Member States.
The action
plan indicated the need for the creation of national and regional networking of
research institutions with a view to avoiding duplication and boosting
innovation.
The action
plan also called to strengthen OIC Standing Committee on
Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH)
through greater allocation of resources
(1)
A complete
OIC 10 year plan
(2)
New
vision for the Muslim world: solidarity in action