MQA Advises Avid College Over Unaccredited Overseas Programmes

The Maldives Qualifications Authority has been advising Avid College for more than a year regarding its alleged operation of academic programmes in Sri Lanka without the required accreditation and approval.

In a public announcement, the authority stated that Avid College conducted programmes at Amazon College and Alzette University in Sri Lanka in breach of regulations governing the delivery of accredited Maldivian programmes abroad. The matter came to attention after students completed Avid-approved programmes at the two institutions, leading graduates and foreign qualification agencies to seek verification of the certificates.

advertisement

The authority reported that Avid College had also advertised its programmes in Sri Lanka through several other institutions, including Chester College of Higher Education, Imperial Wisdom Graduate Campus, Innovatus Campus, Ceylon College of Applied Studies and Between Campus. This information was verified following multiple reports received by the authority.

The Maldives Qualifications Authority noted that the institutions involved were not registered to provide higher education with the relevant authorities in either Sri Lanka or the Maldives. It further stated that Avid College had only been granted approval to conduct online courses related to Quran and associated subjects.

According to the authority, Avid College has been repeatedly instructed since 29 August 2024 not to conduct accredited programmes abroad without formal approval. Despite these instructions, evidence, including documents submitted by Avid College itself, indicated that the programmes continued without the necessary permission.

The authority warned that such actions could cause significant damage to international confidence in Maldivian higher education institutions and could negatively affect relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka. It also highlighted the potential harm to overseas students, the risk of discouraging international enrolment, and the impact on the credibility of the Maldives’ higher education accreditation and certification system.

The Maldives Qualifications Authority reiterated that it instructed all higher education institutions on 17 February last year not to conduct accredited programmes abroad without prior approval. Under the Rules on Conducting Programmes Abroad, institutions are required to obtain explicit permission before offering any accredited course outside the Maldives.

As an initial step under the Maldives Qualifications Authority Accreditation Programmes Abroad Regulations, gazetted on 10 September, the authority has formally advised Avid College. If non-compliance continues, further measures include fines of MVR 8,000, followed by MVR 10,000.