Parliament has approved sweeping changes to the country’s higher education law, reducing the time domestic colleges must operate before applying for university status, even as it imposes stricter academic and institutional requirements.
The amendment to the Maldives Higher Education and Training Act lowers the minimum operational period from 20 years to 15. It also sets out new benchmarks intended to ensure that only institutions with sufficient academic breadth, resources and international engagement qualify for recognition as universities.
The bill, introduced by Abdulla Rifau, the Member of Parliament for South Maafannu, was reviewed by the Committee on National Development and Heritage before being presented to the full chamber. It passed unanimously, with all 55 members in attendance voting in favour.
Until now, the country’s higher education sector has been dominated by two institutions: the Maldives National University and the Islamic University of Maldives. Lawmakers said the reforms would allow qualified colleges to expand into universities, broadening access to tertiary education and strengthening domestic capacity for advanced instruction. Foreign universities already have a separate route. Institutions recognised abroad may register in the Maldives if they have operated internationally for at least 10 years.
The new law also codifies detailed criteria for colleges seeking university status. To qualify, a college must offer programmes in at least three distinct fields at Levels 7 and 9 of the Maldives National Qualifications Framework. It must enrol more than 1,000 students in courses at Level 7 and above, and at least 10 percent of its academic staff must hold doctoral qualifications.
The institution must also have participated in an international university ranking system and maintained membership in both an international association of universities and an international quality assurance body for no less than five years. In addition, it must demonstrate research output of international standard and show experience in collaborative programmes with foreign universities. Resources and facilities must meet the standards specified by the relevant government ministry.
The legislation requires that all supporting regulations be finalised and published in the Government Gazette within two months of ratification. By lowering barriers to recognition but raising the standards for institutional performance, lawmakers sought to balance accessibility with academic quality in the Maldives’ evolving higher education sector.