Dr. Mohamed Mansour, Dean of the Islamic University of Latin America – Mexico and President of the Foundation for Development and Cultural and Educational Cooperation in Latin America, participated in the First Consultative Meeting of Islamic University Leaders.
The meeting brought together more than 100 university presidents and academic officials representing over 70 universities from 43 countries. Its primary objective was to strengthen cooperation among higher education institutions throughout the Islamic world.
The gathering featured distinguished representation from Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, an institution internationally recognized for its scholarly legacy, academic tradition, and message of moderation, balance, and peaceful coexistence. The Association of Islamic Universities also played a central role in coordinating the meeting and creating opportunities for dialogue among the participating institutions.
During the opening session, Dr. Mohamed Mansour delivered an address highlighting the situation of Muslims in Latin America and the educational, cultural, and institutional needs of their communities.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between universities in the Islamic world and institutions serving Latin America. Such cooperation could support the development of educational programs, the training of qualified professionals, and the establishment of sustainable academic projects tailored to the region’s specific circumstances.
Dr. Mansour also stressed the need to promote Al-Azhar’s scholarly approach in Latin America. This approach is distinguished by moderation, balance, and its ability to combine fidelity to the authentic Islamic tradition with a thoughtful understanding of contemporary realities.
He noted that Al-Azhar’s teachings have illuminated Islamic scholarship for centuries and have contributed to the spread of knowledge, the promotion of coexistence, and the protection of societies from extremism and unbalanced interpretations.
The participation of the Islamic University of Latin America provided an opportunity to present its educational mission and its role in building academic and cultural bridges between Latin America and the Islamic world.
The meeting also included discussions with representatives of various universities, opening new opportunities for academic agreements, cooperation protocols, and joint scientific projects.
The areas of cooperation explored included academic research, the exchange of expertise, student and faculty mobility, curriculum development, and the creation of educational programs suited to the needs of Muslim communities in Latin America.
Through this participation, the Islamic University of Latin America – Mexico reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation and to developing an educational model that combines scholarly authenticity, intercultural dialogue, and the demands of contemporary academic life.
