Founder of Villa Foundation, Gasim Ibrahim has underscored the importance of increasing higher studies opportunities for the youth.
He made this remark in his message Villa College & OUM Convocation 2015.
Gasim said that the ceremony was held in the 50th year of Maldivian independence, and that the country’s higher education was not carried out adequately in previous years.
However, he noted that opportunities for higher education has expanded and so has opportunities to study in renowned universities and colleges in other countries.
Gasim said that, for the good of society, the youth should be taught the importance education, and given the support that they need.
Villa College is a full-fledged tertiary education and training institute established by the Chairman of Villa Group, Gasim Ibrahim to offer educational opportunities to Maldivians, at an affordable price, in the country. With this aim, Villa College began its historic journey on the 28th of January 2007, with the registration of its first institute, Villa Institute of Water Sports followed by the Villa Institute of Information Technology (VIIT) and Villa Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Studies. By the consistent endeavors of our chairman and the countless efforts of the enthusiastic and committed group of staff, on the 17th October 2007 Villa College was registered and established as the first Private College of the Maldives by the Department of Higher Education.
Villa College commenced its first program early October 2007 with a total number of twenty students. Since then, the student numbers have grown steadily and today over one thousand students, learning various disciplines, are enrolled. Although Villa College started its operations in October 2007 under the Faculty of Computing and Business Management, all academic courses began in July 2008.
Now Villa College hosts more than 3,000 students in different fields. Six campuses and three learning centers have been established in different parts of Maldives. A Villa College campus has also been established in our neighboring country, Sri Lanka.