Third-year students from the Bachelor of Psychology programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), enrolled in PSY311 Forensic Psychology, participated in a field exposure visit to Maafushi Jail on 31 October 2024.

The visit provided 30 students and five staff members with an opportunity to gain practical exposure to forensic psychology within a correctional setting. The participating staff members included Unaisa Saud, Mariyam Ifshan, Afaa Mohamed and Sham’aa Saeed.

The field experience enabled students to connect concepts explored in their Forensic Psychology coursework with the realities of practice within the criminal justice system. Through exposure to the correctional environment, students were able to strengthen their understanding of the role of psychology in correctional settings and the importance of rehabilitation.

The visit also provided an opportunity for students to consider the contribution of psychological knowledge and professional practice to offender rehabilitation and the broader criminal justice system. Experiential learning of this nature can help students develop a more contextual understanding of forensic psychology and the responsibilities of professionals working with individuals involved in the justice system.

The activity further strengthened engagement between The Maldives National University (MNU) and the Maldives Correctional Service, supporting opportunities for students to learn from real-world professional settings.

Field exposure is an important component of professional education, allowing students to complement academic learning with practical experiences and develop a clearer understanding of potential career pathways. Forensic Psychology students, in particular, benefit from opportunities to observe how psychological knowledge intersects with correctional and justice-related services.

The visit reflects FHS’s commitment to experiential and practice-oriented education and to developing graduates who can apply psychological knowledge across diverse professional settings.

The initiative contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through its focus on psychological wellbeing and rehabilitation, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through experiential learning, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration between MNU and the Maldives Correctional Service.