Government Awards Research Grants To Three Institutions

The government has awarded research grants to three higher education institutions to support scientific studies in areas considered vital to the Maldives’ national development.

The recipients of the grants are the Maldives National University (MNU), the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) and Villa College. The agreements were signed on Wednesday between the Research Council of the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development and the three institutions.

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މަތީ ތަޢުލީމާއި މަސައްކަތްތެރިކަމާއި ހުނަރުތައް ތަރައްޤީކުރުމާއި ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާގެ ނެޝަނަލް ރިސަރޗް ކައުންސިލާއި، ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ޔުނިވާސިޓީ (އެމް.އެން.ޔޫ)،ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ އިސްލާމީ ޔުނިވާސިޓީ (އައި.ޔޫ.އެމް) އަދި ވިލާ ކޮލެޖްގެ މެދުގައި ވެވޭ ރިސަރޗް ގްރާންޓް މެނޭޖްމަންޓް… pic.twitter.com/wGJzlq4Pb0— Min. of Higher Edu, Labour and Skills Development (@MoHEmv) October 29, 2025

According to the ministry, these were the only institutions that expressed interest in applying for the grants.

The research funding will focus on key national priority areas, including governance, safety and well-being, economic development and sustainability, digital transformation and innovation, and the green agenda.

The ministry stated that the main objectives of the programme are to facilitate scientific research that supports the Maldives’ development goals, promote evidence-based decision-making in national policy formulation, and encourage the dissemination of research findings.

It added that increasing investment in research activities is a key pledge in the government’s manifesto, and supporting local educational institutions through such grants is part of efforts to strengthen the national research culture.