Parliamentarian South Maafannu Constituency Abdulla Rifau has submitted a proposal to transition colleges to university status after 15 years of service. The proposal includes amendments to the Maldives Higher Education Act and aims to expand higher education opportunities within the nation.
The current Higher Education Act stipulates that a college must operate for 20 years of uninterrupted service to be considered for university status. The proposed amendment seeks to shorten this period to 15 years.
In addition to reducing the timeframe, the proposal introduces specific criteria for colleges seeking to achieve university status. These include conducting at least three programmes approved by the Maldives National Qualification Framework (MNQF) at levels 7 or 9 in various fields, such as Art and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. Colleges must also have a minimum of 1,000 students enrolled in courses above level 7.
The proposal requires that colleges participate in international university rankings or have a minimum of five years of experience in running university-level programmes. It also stipulates that colleges must have been a member of an international organization of universities or a quality assurance body for five years. Furthermore, colleges must be involved in internationally recognized research projects and demonstrate management expertise in operating foreign universities and colleges.
To ensure high academic standards, the proposal mandates that at least 10% of the academic staff must hold a PhD. Additionally, colleges must meet the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour, and Skills Development's standards for facilities and resources.
Currently, higher education in the Maldives is provided by two institutions: Maldives National University (MNU) and Islamic University of Maldives (IUM). The proposed amendments are designed to create new opportunities for the establishment and growth of higher education institutions in the country.
Parliamentarian Rifau emphasised that the proposed changes aim to foster a more dynamic and resourceful higher education sector, offering greater opportunities for Maldivians and enabling institutions to provide a diverse range of academic programmes.
The proposal is now under consideration for legislative approval, with the potential to significantly impact the future of higher education in the Maldives.