President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the First Amendment to the Maldives Higher Education and Training Act (Act No. 7/2021), aimed at expanding access to higher education and allowing qualified institutions to provide university-level education in the Maldives.
The amendment, passed by the 20th People’s Majlis at its 16th sitting of the third session of 2025 on November 5, revises the criteria for establishing and operating universities in the country.
Under the revised law, institutions seeking registration as a university must have operated as a local college for at least 15 consecutive years or functioned as a university abroad for a minimum of 10 years.
To convert a registered college into a university, the institution must meet several benchmarks, including offering at least three programmes at Maldives National Qualifications Framework (MNQF) Levels 7 and 9, maintaining 1,000 or more students at those levels, and being ranked or rated internationally. Additionally, institutions must have international affiliations, demonstrate research experience, employ at least 10 percent doctoral-qualified staff, and meet infrastructure standards set by the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development.
The amendment has now been published in the Government Gazette and is in effect.
The amendment, passed by the 20th People’s Majlis at its 16th sitting of the third session of 2025 on November 5, revises the criteria for establishing and operating universities in the country.
Under the revised law, institutions seeking registration as a university must have operated as a local college for at least 15 consecutive years or functioned as a university abroad for a minimum of 10 years.
To convert a registered college into a university, the institution must meet several benchmarks, including offering at least three programmes at Maldives National Qualifications Framework (MNQF) Levels 7 and 9, maintaining 1,000 or more students at those levels, and being ranked or rated internationally. Additionally, institutions must have international affiliations, demonstrate research experience, employ at least 10 percent doctoral-qualified staff, and meet infrastructure standards set by the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development.
The amendment has now been published in the Government Gazette and is in effect.
