Strengthening Health Partnerships

School of Nursing in collaboration with Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery (SONAM) and the Centre of Innovation in Medical Education (CIME), conducted a capacity-building training on Simulation-Based Education (SBE) from November 13–22, 2024. The program, which included both online and in-person training, equipped MNU nursing faculty with the skills to design, implement, and evaluate SBE for improved clinical teaching. Enhancing the competence of nurse educators and strengthening the quality of nursing education, ensures safer, more effective care delivery and contributes to better health outcomes in the Maldives.

The Faculty of Health Sciences  has established an academic partnership with The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM) as the Organising Partner of the 8th Global Public Health Conference (GLOBEHEAL 2025). This collaboration enhances MNU’s engagement in global health dialogues, fostering opportunities for research dissemination, academic networking, and international collaboration.

Bachelor of Pharmacy students from MNU successfully completed a three-week externship in industrial and hospital training at the Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS), under the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), India. During the placement, students attended seminars, engaged in hands-on laboratory sessions, and gained valuable exposure to pharmaceutical manufacturing and clinical practices. This international learning experience strengthened their practical competencies and understanding of global pharmaceutical standards. 

• • Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences

• Office of International Affairs and Collaborations- MAHE Manipal

As part of the Thematic Lecture Series organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences, distinguished scholars from Carnegie Mellon University delivered two insightful public lectures.

Associate Professor Kasey Creswell presented on “The Importance of Sleep for Health and Well-Being,” offering evidence-based insights into the role of sleep hygiene in promoting mental and physical health. Professor David Creswell followed with a lecture on “Mindfulness Interventions,” highlighting empirical research on how mindfulness practices enhance overall well-being.

These sessions provided valuable scientific perspectives to students, faculty, and the wider community, reinforcing the importance of mental and physical wellness. 

The School of Medicine hosted delegates from the University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) monitoring team, including Prof. Datin Dr. Marina Mat Baki (Dean of the Faculty of Medicine) and Emeritus Prof. Dato’ Dr. Wan Zurinah Wan Ngah.

The visit focused on assessing the implementation of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) curriculum, ensuring alignment with international academic and clinical training standards. During their visit, the delegates also met with the Senior Management Team of MNU to discuss the progress, challenges, and future directions of the program.

This collaboration strengthens MNU’s partnership with UKM, fostering academic excellence, curriculum quality assurance, and capacity building in medical education. 

The School of Medicine has adopted key elements of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) medical curriculum to align with international standards in medical education. This collaboration strengthens curriculum quality, enhances clinical training, and promotes excellence in healthcare education.

The Monitoring Team from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and the Dean of the School of Medicine, The Maldives National University, met with the Senior Management Team of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) to discuss the implementation of the Doctor of Medicine curriculum. The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between institutions to enhance the delivery of medical education and clinical training in the Maldives.

The School of Medicine established a collaboration with Riphah International University to strengthen academic partnerships, expand professional development opportunities, and promote joint initiatives in medical education and research.

Dr. Asiya Ibrahim, Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing Science), Faculty of Nursing, in collaboration with Assistant Professor Dr. Orn-Anong Wichaikhum (Corresponding Author) and the research team, has successfully published their study in an international journal. Their article, “Policy Initiatives and Effectiveness: Maldivian Nurses’ Career Advancement and Remuneration,” appears in Nursing and Health Sciences (Scopus Nursing Q2 / ISI Q2).

Dr. Ibrahim completed this research as part of her doctoral program, supported by the Presidential Scholarship awarded by Chiang Mai University, Thailand.

Faculty of Health Sciences of the MNU, in collaboration with UNICEF, undertook a comprehensive revision of the Primary Health Care program to align it with international standards and best practices. This initiative aims to strengthen the quality and relevance of health education, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of community health services.

The Faculty of Health Sciences  has established a partnership with the Occupational Therapy Association of Maldives (OTAM) to strengthen professional collaboration and support the development of the upcoming Bachelor of Occupational Therapy program. This partnership will create valuable learning and clinical exposure opportunities for students, ensuring the program is aligned with national needs and professional standards. By advancing training in rehabilitation and functional independence, this partnership contributes to the growth of skilled allied health professionals in the Maldives.

Physiotherapy students from The Maldives National University were given the opportunity to practice their skills through community placement postings at Addu Equatorial Hospital and Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital. These placements allowed students to apply their clinical knowledge in real healthcare settings, gaining valuable experience in patient care, rehabilitation, and community health promotion. Such opportunities strengthen practical learning and foster collaboration between MNU and regional health institutions.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Abdulla Khaleel, met with the management of the Faculty of Health Sciences, The Maldives National University on the 8th of July 2024 to discuss ongoing healthcare programs, new course developments aligned with national priorities, and challenges related to course implementation and clinical placements. The meeting also focused on strengthening collaboration with regulatory bodies to ensure program quality and workforce readiness. This engagement reinforces the shared commitment to advancing health education and service delivery in the Maldives.

The Faculty of Health Sciences partnered with the Maldives Airports Company Limited as an affiliate organization for the 2nd Occupational Safety and Health Forum, themed “Climate Change and Safety and Health at Work.” The forum brought together key national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, and the Health Protection Agency, to address the intersection of climate resilience and workplace safety. This collaboration underscores MNU’s commitment to promoting safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient work environments.

Medical students from The Maldives National University actively participated in a health screening programme conducted in collaboration with Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital (KRH). The activity aimed to raise community health awareness and promote preventive healthcare practices.

The Sports Medicine Association of Maldives (SMAM), in collaboration with STO Medical Services, provided an excellent learning opportunity for Bachelor of Physiotherapy students from the Maldives National University (MNU). As part of this initiative, four final-year physiotherapy interns were sponsored to participate in a specialized workshop on Sports Taping. The training focused on practical techniques and evidence-based approaches to injury prevention, rehabilitation, and athletic performance enhancement. This collaboration not only strengthened students’ clinical and professional competencies in sports rehabilitation but also reflects MNU’s commitment to building industry partnerships that promote hands-on learning, and skill development

The Faculty of Health Sciences at the MNU, in collaboration with the Health Protection Agency (HPA), organized an awareness session on Mpox for faculty and staff members. The session was conducted by Dr. Nazla Rafeeg from HPA and provided valuable insights into the current Mpox situation, including global and national updates. It also emphasized preventive measures, response strategies, and public health interventions implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) and HPA to control and prevent community transmission.

During 2024, the Dean of the School of Nursing met with management teams and nursing officials from Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and several regional hospitals. The discussion focused on enhancing support for nursing students during their clinical postings, with the aim of strengthening training quality, improving supervision, and ensuring a more cohesive learning experience across clinical sites.

In celebration of World Health Day, Medicos, Healers, and Neares—three branches of The Maldives National University Students’ Union (MNUSU)—jointly organized the “MNUSU Healthy Eid” community health event.

As part of the initiative, health screening stalls were set up, offering free weight and height assessment, blood pressure checks, and blood sugar testing. A total of 90 individuals benefited from these services.

This annual collaboration marks the third consecutive year that the three student branches have come together to celebrate World Health Day, demonstrating a strong and growing partnership in promoting community wellbeing. A series of additional health-related activities are also planned throughout the year.

This initiative reflects MNU’s commitment to strengthening health partnerships by working closely with national health stakeholders to expand health education, provide essential services, and enhance public awareness on preventive healthcare.

• Event Link

On February 3, 2023, the School of Medicine (SM) at The Maldives National University (MNU) conducted a specialized training session on “Introduction to Team-Based Learning (TBL)” for doctors from ADK Hospital. This initiative marked a significant step in enhancing teaching and learning methodologies for clinical education in the Maldives, emphasizing active participation and collaborative problem-solving.

The Public Health Unit (PHU) successfully held an orientation for the 3rd Year Medical Students of Batch-4, who are doing their clinical posting in collaboration with the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital.

A critical Training of Trainers (ToT) on Advanced Emergency Care was successfully organized for healthcare professionals—both doctors and nurses—between March 13th and 18th, 2023. This crucial program aims to significantly elevate the standard of emergency medical services across the Maldives by creating a pool of highly qualified local trainers.

On 20th April 2023, the School of Medicine at The Maldives National University (MNU) welcomed two distinguished international academics, Prof. Christelle Delaite from the University of Haute Alsace, France, and Prof. Leonard Ionut Atanase from Apollonia University, Romania.

The visit served to strengthen international academic cooperation and explore potential collaborations in medical education and research. Such exchanges are vital for benchmarking the School of Medicine’s curriculum against European standards and fostering opportunities for faculty and student exchange programs.

The School of Medicine (SM) at The Maldives National University (MNU) recently hosted a monitoring visit by delegates from the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). This visit underscores the critical partnership between MNU and UKM, which provides technical guidance for the implementation of the Doctor of Medicine (MD) curriculum at MNU.

 The Senior Management Team of Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital (KRH) recently held an introductory meeting with the 3rd Year Medical Students of Batch-4 (Group 3) from The Maldives National University (MNU) School of Medicine. This essential session launched the students’ practical exposure component for the Medicine and Society Module III.

On Tuesday 12th Dec 2023 Senior faculty members from the School of Medicine including the acting Dean Dr. Aminath Huda, met with a team from Maldives Police Service to discuss details of the upcoming Personal and Professional Advancement (PPA) camp for 5th year Medical students.

The Dean and lecturers from the School of Medicine met with the Canadian Government’s Technical Assistance Partnership Team to discuss ways to enhance the capacity of MNU to undertake climate change and climate action research.

Community Health Coordinator Ms.Sameena Mohamed Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital conducted an information session for Batch 6 students, currently doing their posting at Kulhudhufushi Regional Hospital.

A session on Medical Records was conducted by Mr. Hassan Ahmed, for Batch 6 who are in Kulhudhufushi until the end of October to complete a part of their Medicine and Society Module.

The High Commissioner of Pakistan Vice Admiral Fayyaz Gilani visited the School of Medicine of The Maldives National University today. Discussions were held with the Vice Chancellor Dr Mohamed Shareef on areas of mutual interest and collaboration.

On Wednesday, August 20, 2025, the School of Medicine (SM) at The Maldives National University (MNU) hosted a delegation of trainers from Flinders University, Australia.