Colleges that have operated continuously in the Maldives for at least 15 years can now apply to be converted into universities under newly established regulations governing the registration and operation of universities.
The framework also creates a pathway for foreign universities that have been operating for at least 10 years and are officially recognized by the governments of their respective countries to apply for registration in the Maldives.
However, meeting the 15-year operational requirement alone will not be sufficient for a Maldivian college to obtain university status.
Strict academic requirements
Under the new criteria, an eligible college must have continuously offered MNQF Level 7 and Level 9 programmes in at least three academic fields for five years.
The institution must also have at least 1,000 students enrolled in MQA-accredited programmes at Level 7 or above. The requirement is intended to reflect sustained student enrolment rather than a temporary increase in numbers.
The eligible fields include:
- Arts and Humanities
- Engineering and Technology
- Life Sciences and Medicine
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
The regulations also require institutions seeking university status to demonstrate an established presence in the international higher-education sector. This includes participation in international university rankings or evidence of operating university-level programmes for at least five years, as well as membership in an international university organization and an international quality-assurance body for at least five years.
Research and academic staff requirements
Colleges must also demonstrate experience in conducting research to international standards, including research carried out in cooperation with foreign universities or other international organizations.
At least 10 percent of the institution's academic staff must hold PhD qualifications.
In addition, applicants must have facilities and infrastructure that meet the standards established by the Higher Education Ministry for university operations.
All academic programmes offered by higher education institutions in the Maldives must obtain programme accreditation from the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) under the country's higher-education framework.
Five-member committee to assess applications
Institutions seeking university registration will be required to submit their applications and supporting documents through a dedicated online portal.
Following submission, a five-member technical committee will assess the application and prepare a report. The committee will include two higher-education specialists, a senior official from the Higher Education Ministry, a senior official from the MQA and a representative from the financial sector.
The assessment process is intended to determine whether an applicant has met the academic, institutional, financial and infrastructure requirements for university status.
Regular audits after registration
Universities will remain subject to regulatory oversight after receiving approval.
The MQA will conduct institutional audits every three years, while both the ministry and MQA will retain powers to conduct investigations and audits without prior notice.
The new framework comes after amendments to the Higher Education and Training Act allowed colleges operating for at least 15 years to apply for university status. The MQA said earlier this year that no college in the Maldives then met all the requirements for university designation.
The Maldives currently has two universities, Maldives National University (MNU) and Islamic University of Maldives (IUM). The new regulations could potentially allow qualifying long-established colleges to join the country's university sector, provided they satisfy the additional academic, research, staffing and institutional requirements.
