The Maldives National University (MNU), through the National Research Fund: Emerging Research Grants (NRF-ERG) programme, continues to strengthen a research-intensive and innovation-driven culture aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national development priorities. Introduced in 2025, the NRF-ERG is supported by the National Research Council under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development, reinforcing national efforts to advance research capacity building, innovation ecosystems, and evidence-based policymaking.

The NRF-ERG Call 1 received a strong competitive response from researchers across MNU, with a total of 21 research proposals submitted. Following a rigorous, transparent, and merit-based peer review process, 16 proposals were identified as highly meritorious. Given the capped total funding allocation of MVR 1.5 million (Maldivian Rufiyaa), a second-stage evaluation and ranking process was conducted to ensure fair prioritisation and optimal allocation of resources. Based on this process, the 11 highest-ranked proposals were selected for funding, fully utilising the available grant envelope.

Several funded projects demonstrate strong interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-institutional partnerships, involving government agencies, international universities, research institutions, and industry partners. This reflects MNU’s commitment to research co-creation, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge exchange, strengthening pathways for evidence-informed decision-making and societal impact.

The NRF-ERG programme is designed to generate measurable societal impact, strengthen national research capacity, and support the translation of research evidence into policy and practice, addressing critical development challenges in governance, health, education, environment, technology, culture, energy, and economic diversification.

NRF-ERG Call 1 Funded Research Projects:

1. Project Title: AEGIS-M: An Edge-AI System for Automated Drowning Detection and Harbor Security

SDG Alignment: SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 14

Focus: artificial intelligence for coastal resilience, disaster risk reduction, maritime safety systems, smart infrastructure, and life below water protection

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Mariyam Humra, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigators:
• • Dr. Ahmed Zahir, Yunnan University, China
  • Dr. Ubaidhullah Abdul Hameed, Yunnan University, China

2. Project Title: Revisiting Family Law in the Maldives: Gender Equality, Access to Justice, and Pathways for Reform

SDG Alignment: SDG 5, SDG 16

Focus: gender equality, legal empowerment, access to justice, institutional reform, inclusive governance, and strong justice systems

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigator:
  • Dr. Marium Jabyn, Equal Rights Initiative (ERI), Maldives

3. Project Title: Smart Farming in the Maldives: An AI-Based Approach to Strengthen Agricultural Productivity and Economic Diversification

SDG Alignment: SDG 2, SDG 8, SDG 9

Focus: food security, climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable agriculture systems, economic diversification, and AI-driven innovation in primary industries

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Ibrahim Adam, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigators:
  • Ibrahim Hassaan, Maldives Transport & Contracting Company
  • Dr. Nadhiya Abdulla, The Maldives National University

4. Project Title: Automated Moodle Course Quality Monitoring and Learning Analytics Plugin for MQA-Aligned e-Learning Governance

SDG Alignment: SDG 4, SDG 9

Focus: digital transformation in education, quality assurance in higher education, learning analytics, e-learning governance, and education innovation

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Roza Ibrahim, The Maldives National University, Maldives
• Co-Investigators:
  • Dr. Ali Fawaz Shareef, The Maldives National University
  • Dr. Raheema Abdul Raheem, The Maldives National University
  • Ibrahim Adam, The Maldives National University
  • Hassan Malaz, The Maldives National University
  • Mariyam Fizaana Rashyd, Maldives Qualifications Authority

5. Project Title: A Baseline Study on the Initial Implementation of the Generational Tobacco Ban in the Maldives

SDG Alignment: SDG 3

Focus: public health policy, tobacco control, preventive healthcare systems, behavioural change, and health policy implementation

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Asiya Ibrahim, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigators:
  • Dr. Aishath Shanoora, The Maldives National University
  • Dr. Fathimath Shafeega, Institute of Research and Development, Maldives  
  • Dr. Aminath Shiyama, The Maldives National University
  • Fathimath Najudha, Health Protection Agency, Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare, Maldives

6. Project Title: Collecting, Documenting, Analyzing and Digitizing Maldivian Folklore (ދިވެހި ފޯކްލޯ ފުރޭފުކޮށް، ތަހުލީލުކޮށް، މާނައާ އެކު ސުމޭކުކޮށް އާއްމުކުރުން)

SDG Alignment: SDG 4, SDG 11, SDG 16

Focus: cultural heritage preservation, digital humanities, intangible cultural heritage safeguarding, knowledge preservation, and identity protection

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Azeeza Afeef, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigators:
  • Dr. Maryam Mariya, University of Waikato, New Zealand
  • Aaidha Hammadh, The Maldives National University

7. Project Title: Assessing Cyber Resilience Maturity in the Maldivian Financial Sector: Risks, Readiness, and Policy Responses

SDG Alignment: SDG 9, SDG 16

Focus: cybersecurity resilience, digital governance, financial sector stability, cyber risk management, and institutional resilience

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Mohamed Shamoon, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigators:
  • Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Edith Cowan University, Australia
  • Dr. Ali Fawaz Shareef, The Maldives National University
  • Dr. Simad Saeed, CDE Consulting, Maldives
  • Aisha Rasheed, The Maldives National University
  • Ali Akhthamy, The Maldives National University
  • Aminath Jeen, The Maldives National University
  • Fathimath Sana, The Maldives National University
  • Aishath Shaheen, The Maldives National University

8. Project Title: Analysis of Household Electricity Consumption for Cooling in Male’ Region

SDG Alignment: SDG 7, SDG 13

Focus: energy efficiency, climate change mitigation, sustainable urban energy systems, low-carbon transition, and climate adaptation

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Aminath Shazly, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigators:
  • Fathimath Raufa Moosa, Maldives Association for Energy Efficiency
  • Mohamed Inaz, Maldives Association for Energy Efficiency

9. Project Title: Public Perception Towards the Integrity of Maldives Police Service

SDG Alignment: SDG 16

Focus: governance transparency, institutional integrity, public trust, accountability systems, and strong institutions

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Shuaib Rasheed, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigators:
  • Fathimath Shareef, National Integrity Commission, Maldives
  • Nafha Hussain, National Integrity Commission, Maldives
  • Dr. Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer, The Maldives National University
  • Dr. Nadhiya Abdulla, The Maldives National University

10. Project Title: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Tuberculosis Screening and Diagnosis Among the Working-Age Population in the Greater Male’ Area

SDG Alignment: SDG 3

Focus: public health surveillance, disease prevention, early diagnosis, health system strengthening, and communicable disease control

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Dr. Mohamed Sam-aan Hussain, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigators:
  • Dr. Shazla Mohamed, The Maldives National University
  • Dr. Aishath Shaheen Ismail, The Maldives National University
  • Dr. Asma Ibrahim Sulaiman, The Maldives National University
  • Mohamed Zaid, The Maldives National University
  • Dr. Aishath Niyaf, The Maldives National University

11. Project Title: Dhivehi Reference Manager with Parallel English Styles and Word/Browser Integration

SDG Alignment: SDG 4, SDG 9

Focus: academic writing support, research productivity tools, digital scholarship, multilingual knowledge systems, and innovation in research infrastructure

Team:

• Principal Investigator: Ahmed Hashim, The Maldives National University
• Co-Investigator:
  • Ibrahim Adam, The Maldives National University