The Parliament has passed an amendment to the Higher Education and Training Act, allowing colleges to be granted university status after 15 years of operation.
The amendment, proposed by PNC MP Abdulla Rifau, was approved with 55 votes in favor.
The goal is to expand access to higher education in the Maldives and enable institutions with the necessary capacity to offer university-level programs. To qualify for university status, a college must meet the following criteria:
Operated continuously for at least 15 years  
Offer programs in at least three fields from Level 7 to Level 9 of the Maldives National Qualifications Framework, including: Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences and Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences.
Enroll a minimum of 1,000 students in Level 7 and above programs  
Participate in an international university ranking system or have run university-level programs for at least five years  
Maintain five years of membership in both an international university organization and a recognized international quality assurance body  
Demonstrate experience in international research and collaboration with foreign universities or organizations  
Ensure that at least 10 percent of academic staff are qualified to uphold the institution’s academic standards
The amendment is expected to pave the way for long-established colleges to transition into full-fledged universities, strengthening the country’s higher education landscape.