MQA Issues Advisory for Maldivian Students on Higher Education in Sri Lanka
Photo: The President’s Office
The Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) has issued a critical advisory cautioning Maldivian students planning to pursue higher education in Sri Lanka to carefully verify study programmes before enrolment.
The advisory follows concerns about certain Sri Lankan institutions operating outside approved standards, raising the risk of students’ qualifications not being recognised in the Maldives. MQA noted that it has identified institutions conducting programmes that do not comply with the standards set by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). These include cases where institutions have offered tertiary programmes above Higher Diploma level in collaboration with foreign partners, in violation of regulatory requirements.
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
As part of new measures, MQA announced that certificates awarded by such non-compliant institutions will no longer be accepted. To protect students’ academic interests, Maldivians intending to study in Sri Lanka must now obtain an “intended” document from the authority before beginning any programme. This step is aimed at ensuring programme validity and future recognition within the Maldives.
The advisory also clarified the regulatory framework in Sri Lanka. Tertiary programmes below Higher Diploma are regulated by the TVEC, while post-degree level programmes fall under the oversight of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Vocational Education.
MQA reaffirmed that it will continue to recognise programmes that meet the admission requirements of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and are offered by institutions formally approved by the relevant Sri Lankan authorities. The authority urged students to thoroughly confirm that institutions and their programmes meet these standards and are recognised under the Maldives Qualifications Regulations before committing academically or financially.
