Mainz International (MI) College has launched the Maldives' first-ever bachelor's degree programme in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, a significant step toward developing local expertise in the field.
The new three-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) programme announced at a special ceremony last Friday includes both online and in-class components, and aims to make AI education accessible to students across the atolls.
MI College Vice Rector Dr Fathimath Shaheema noted that the programme is the culmination of two years of development, adding that the degree is designed not just to train AI users, but to turn them into AI producers.
"This is in line with global efforts to build AI governance and literacy," she said.
The comprehensive, 360-credit point curriculum is spread over six semesters. It begins with foundational computer science, covering:
Programming in Python and C++
Data structures
Databases
Discrete mathematics
Calculus and statistics
Advanced classes will follow, focusing on:
Machine learning
Deep learning
Computer vision
Natural language processing
Big data analytics
Advanced algorithms
The course concludes with a 30-credit capstone project, providing students with practical, hands-on experience. Additionally, modules on research methods and employability skills are designed to prepare graduates for the job market.
According to MI College, the new degree programme will produce the skilled professionals needed to meet the country's growing demand for AI expertise.
These graduates will play a critical role in introducing and developing AI technology across various sectors in the Maldives, it said.
For a small, service-oriented economy like the Maldives, MI College said training local AI talent offers strategic advantages, adding that it will help reduce the dependence on foreign countries and facilitate responsible use of AI by Maldivian agencies.