The Maldives National University is extending its presence with the creation of an outreach campus on the island of Ungoofaaru in Raa Atoll, a move intended to decentralise higher education and broaden access across the country. The initiative was formalised when the Ungoofaaru Island Council handed over a building designated for the new campus.
The handover and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday at the university. Vice-Chancellor Aishath Shehenaz Adam signed the agreement on behalf of MNU, while Abdulla Rasheed, President of the Ungoofaaru Council, signed on behalf of the local administration.
The new campus is expected to expand opportunities for residents throughout Raa Atoll. At the ceremony, Adam described Ungoofaaru as an academic community already producing strong results. “Students from Ungoofaaru are consistently achieving successes at both national and international levels,” she said.
She added that the benefits of the initiative would extend beyond education. “I believe that securing this type of opportunity for an academic community such as Ungoofaaru is immensely important. The benefits of this initiative will not be limited solely to educational opportunities. This will also result in subsequent advancements from both economic and social perspectives.”
Local officials have pressed for the swift activation of the campus. Rasheed said he expected at least three courses to begin in the first semester of the coming academic year. “Residents of Raa Atoll, and specifically the citizens of Ungoofaaru, will gain the opportunity to easily pursue various courses while remaining on their home island,” he said. “It is my expectation that arrangements will be made for the commencement of at least three specific courses during the first semester of the upcoming year, specifically focusing on training programmes for nursing, teaching, and computer technicians.”
The project aligns with the government’s broader strategy to expand higher education across the atolls. It also reflects MNU’s wider efforts to strengthen academic quality nationwide, including agreements with private companies and international universities, collaborations across multiple fields, and initiatives to secure greater opportunities for students and staff.