Student Work Placements and Internships

The MNU takes into account employability through various mechanisms, beginning with incorporating employer voice into course design. The MNU Curriculum Development and Review Policy requires that any new course be discussed at the Faculty Advisory Committee which includes representatives from employers. Research is done to check workforce and employer needs in preparing curriculum related documentation.

Faculties and Centres have incorporated work placements into their curriculum through various formats.

Students of the Faculty of Health Sciences are placed across a wide range of healthcare, rehabilitation, public health, and psychosocial service institutions to gain essential practical experience as part of their academic training. These placements expose students to diverse professional environments spanning tertiary hospitals, regional and atoll health facilities, community health systems, rehabilitation centres, and mental health and social care agencies. In 2025, 

Medical Laboratory Science students completed clinical rotations at major hospital laboratories; Physiotherapy students underwent extensive internships and placements across hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and private practices; Public Health students were posted to 34 different hospitals, health centres, and national agencies; and Counselling, Psychology, and Social Work students completed their field practice at leading mental health and social support organisations. 

Through this comprehensive and multidisciplinary placement structure, FHS ensures that students develop strong professional competencies, practical skills, and a holistic understanding of the Maldivian health and social care system preparing them to serve effectively in hospitals, 

The table below provides a breakdown of health sciences students placed in various institutions in 2025, grouped by programme.

Student teachers enrolled in the Faculty of Education are required to complete a four week practicum each year during their 3 year degree programs. During this period, they are placed in schools and are required to engage in supervised teaching practice. Academic supervisors provide formative feedback to support continuous improvement and professional growth. 

This practicum framework ensures that graduate teachers are prepared for the school environment, familiar with institutional processes, and equipped with professional competencies expected of qualified teachers. A total of 348 student teachers have completed their practicum requirements this year.  

The Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies requires students to undertake workplacements in relevant institutions within the hospitality and tourism sector. FHTS maintains affiliations with leading industry employers including prominent resorts and hotels, to ensure students gain meaningful practical experiences. . 

Students enrolled in hospitality or tourism programmes typically undertake internships lasting six to twelve months. Throughout these internships, students are closely supervised and monitored to ensure they acquire the skills, competencies and conduct required for professional success. These work placements provide essential exposure to real-world operations, enabling them to understand industry practices, workplace culture and professional expectations. This practical experience equips graduates to thrive in the competitive and dynamic hospitality and tourism industry. In 2024 a total of 35 students were enrolled in internships, and 20 students are currently undertaking placements this year. 

The faculty building was developed with this vision of strengthening the tourism and hospitality workforce and includes an on-site training hotel, currently operated by the Manhattan Business Hotel which serves as a training ground for students. . 

Additionally a dedicated training resort is under development in Laamu Gan, outside Male’, which will provide further hands-on training opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sector for both local and international students. 

Nursing students are placed across a range of healthcare facilities to gain practical experience and expertise essential to the nursing profession. As part of their clinical course requirements students complete practical subjects in which they are placed in, and rotated through multiple departments within these facilities. This ensures exposure to diverse clinical environments, including outpatient departments, speciality wards, intensive care units, and operation theatres. In addition, students acquire community health nursing experience through visiting patients within the community. This comprehensive approach fosters a holistic philosophy of nursing care and supports the development of key professional competencies, including leadership, decision-making and critical thinking. 

As a result of this rigorous training and extensive hands-on experience, MNU-trained nurses now constitute the majority of the nursing workforce in major hospitals across the Maldives, including both public and private healthcare institutions such as IGMH, ADK and Treetop Hospital, 

Upon graduation, undergraduate students qualify for employment as Registered Nurses, while those completing their Master’s Degree can qualify for higher level positions such as Senior Registered Nurse or Clinical Nurse. 

Many MNU nursing graduates also serve in leadership positions including Director of Nursing or Director General of Nursing – in various hospitals. Beyond hospital settings, graduates contribute to higher education as nursing lecturers and serve in specialised sectors such as school health, health insurance, defence and policing. 

Due to the high demand for this field, nursing programmes are offered across all MNU Campuses and 1 Outreach Centre. The table below provides a breakdown of student nurses placed in various health care facilities by campus in 2024. 

The five-year Doctor of Medicine integrates a structured series of clinical postings designed to equip students with progressively advanced competencies,real-world exposure and a comprehensive understanding of healthcare delivery in the Maldivian context. 

Students begin their first clinical exposure at Senahiya Military Hospital where they observe patient consultations, learn basic clinical skills, and develop core competencies such as history taking, communication, and professional conduct. This initial posting emphasises the importance of early patient contact enabling students to understand a broad range of medical conditions at an early stage of their training. 

The Primary Care Clinical Skills Module places students at ADK Hospital – the oldest private hospital in the Maldives. This module aims to strengthen students’ abilities in clinical reasoning, history taking and physical examinations within a primary care setting, while reinforcing the principles of holistic and continuous patient care. 

In Year 3 students gain exposure to the regional health system through a posting at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital (KRH). As part of this placement, students conduct a community health survey applying their epidemiological and statistical knowledge to assess health needs and contribute to evidence based public health practices. 

Students are placed in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), the largest tertiary hospital in Maldives, during Years 3, 4, and 5. Students rotate through major clinical specialities including Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Psychiatry, Orthopaedics, ENT, Anaesthesia and the Emergency Department. Under specialist supervision, students develop diagnostic and clinical judgement skills, and learn to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams. 

Additionally, in Year 3 students are offered an elective posting allowing them to choose a four week placement – locally or internationally – in areas such as humanitarian work, technical skills development, entrepreneurship, or other approved fields. This experience builds independence, adaptability, communication skills and understanding of workplace expectations. 

Students enrolled in Business, Human Resource Management, Marketing or Accounting and Finance degree programmes are required to complete an Applied Project focussed on their respective fields. The Applied Project is designed to provide practical work experience and requires students to be placed in a professional work environment for a minimum of 3 months, during which they complete a meaningful workplace project, under the guidance of the Academic Supervisor assigned by the faculty, and their Workplace Supervisor. Students submit a portfolio and a completed project as assessed components, incorporating reflective writing to develop essential skills such as time management, planning, communication, conflict resolution and other business related competencies. 

In 2025, 47 students are enrolled in the Applied Project as compared to 45 students last year. Completed projects have focused on areas such as operational efficiency, social media marketing, and workplace motivation. Prominent organisations that have supported students through their Applied Projects include Dhiraagu, Bank of Maldives, Maldives Islamic Bank, Maldives Bureau of Statistics, Maldives Transport and Contracting Company and Maldives Water and Sewerage Company. 

Students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme have the option to undertake a Dissertation, allowing them to conduct impactful research in a workplace context. A notable example of such a dissertation is the research project titled “An Evaluation of the Determinants of Work-Life Balance in the Banking Sector of Maldives,” completed by a student who graduated in October this year.

Graduates students from Engineering, Architecture, Science and Computer Science/Information Technology undertake supervised placements in relevant professional environments relevant to their fields of study. 

Engineering students gain essential hands-on experience through placements across industrial construction and technical settings.Their structured industrial training that rotates them through divisions within partner organisations, such as mechanical workshops, electrical installations, civil construction sites, utilities infrastructure, and manufacturing plants. Field surveys, site assessments, and community-based engineering projects further support their practical learning. 

Architecture students obtain practical exposure through immersive placements in architectural firms, construction companies, and government planning agencies. Their training includes rotations across multidisciplinary teams involved in design development, drafting, urban planning, interior design, and site supervision. This ensures exposure to a wide range of real-world environments, including residential projects, commercial developments, heritage sites, landscape design, and public infrastructure.

Science students complete practical training across laboratories, research centres, environmental monitoring units, and diagnostic facilities. They rotate through specialised labs in areas such as microbiology, chemistry, environmental science, marine science, and biotechnology. Science students further extend their field experience through environmental surveys, marine sampling expeditions, ecological assessments, and community-based scientific outreach. This integrated training supports the development of critical scientific competencies including analytical reasoning, laboratory safety, scientific reporting, and research-driven decision-making.

Computer Science and IT students gain practical industry exposure through placements in software companies, IT departments, telecommunications providers, and digital service providers. Students rotate through multiple functional areas including software development, database administration, network operations, cybersecurity, systems analysis, and technical support enabling broad exposure to the real world IT environments. They also contribute to community digital projects supporting local institutions with IT solutions, system upgrades, and digital transformation initiatives. 

This comprehensive training approach strengthens competencies in problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, project management and technical decision-making. MNU-trained engineers, architects, scientists and IT professionals now form a significant part of the national workforce serving in notable public and private sector institutions in their respective fields. 

Students of the BA Library and Information Management programme complete structured placements in libraries, archives, records centres, and other information service organisations to gain essential practical skills experience. Under the guidance of both workplace mentors and University coordinators, they engage in core professional tasks such as cataloguing, classification, records management, and the use of information systems. These placements strengthen students’ technical and soft skills and deepen their understanding of the operational, ethical, and technological aspects of the field, preparing them for diverse roles within the Maldivian information sector. A total of 36 students have completed these placements over the past two years.

Students in the BA Media and Public Relations programme will begin their first structured internship in Semester 1 of 2027, gaining practical experience in media organisations, corporate communication units, public sector offices, and PR agencies. They will engage in key tasks such as content creation, press releases, event coordination, and communication campaigns while observing newsroom and PR operations. The internship will help students integrate theory with practice, develop professional and interpersonal skills, and prepare for diverse careers in media, communications, and public relations across the Maldives and beyond

The Faculty of Shariah and Law integrates academic study, practical training and community engagement to provide students with a comprehensive education in the fields of Law and Islamic Studies. 

Law students benefit from the Moot Court established at the university which offers a simulated courtroom environment to develop and demonstrate legal knowledge, advocacy skills, and professional ethics. Through a combination of competitions, workshops and mentorship from legal academics and practitioners, the Moot Court cultivates confidence, professionalism and a thorough understanding of judicial processes. It plays a central role in preparing students for legal careers by promoting analytical thinking, teamwork and effective communication, while providing hands-on experience in legal research, drafting, oral advocacy and critical analysis.

The Faculty also provides opportunities for students to engage with the community through initiatives such as pro-bono Islamic counseling services, offering guidance on personal and social issues, and the planned Legal Clinic will provide legal awareness and education programs The Legal Clinic will allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world cases, enhancing their legal skills, professional competence, and ethical awareness under the supervision of qualified lecturers and practicing lawyers. 

The Maldives National University recently launched the MNU Innovate Hub, the first university-led business incubator in the Maldives. In addition to the work placement opportunities provided by the various faculties, the Innovate Hub opens up pathways for student entrepreneurship, enabling them to develop and commercialise innovative ideas. Through this initiative MNU further strengthens its contribution to national economic development by supporting the creation of new ventures and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets among students.