The Maldives National University (MNU) is advancing digital innovation in health sciences education through a specialised training programme on “AI Use in Research and Education,” designed to equip Faculty of Health Sciences staff with practical artificial intelligence skills while emphasising the responsible handling of sensitive information.
The training addresses the growing relevance of AI in higher education, research, and healthcare-related professional work. As digital technologies increasingly influence how academic information is analysed, presented, and communicated, the programme seeks to help faculty members identify appropriate applications of AI without compromising academic standards, professional judgement, or data confidentiality.
A central focus of the programme is introducing participants to a range of AI platforms and their potential uses in everyday academic tasks. Staff explore how these tools can assist in preparing summaries, mind maps, presentations, quizzes, reports, and other educational resources that support lesson preparation and student engagement.
The training also examines effective prompting techniques, enabling participants to understand how clearly structured instructions can improve the relevance and usefulness of AI-generated outputs. Document analysis and research support form another important component, highlighting opportunities to use AI in organising information, examining academic materials, and supporting research-related workflows.
Recognising the distinct responsibilities of health sciences professionals, the programme includes discussion of healthcare-related AI applications. This component encourages staff to consider both the opportunities and limitations of emerging technologies in contexts where accuracy, ethical judgement, and information security are particularly important.
Data confidentiality is a key emphasis of the training. Participants are introduced to the importance of protecting sensitive information, including masking confidential data before using digital tools. This focus reinforces the need to evaluate privacy risks and exercise appropriate caution when working with academic, research, or healthcare-related information.
Beyond developing technical skills, the programme encourages critical engagement with AI-generated content. Staff are prompted to consider the accuracy, reliability, and suitability of AI outputs, recognising that these tools should support rather than replace professional expertise and independent academic judgement.
By combining practical applications with responsible-use principles, the initiative aims to strengthen the Faculty of Health Sciences’ capacity to adopt emerging technologies thoughtfully. It also supports MNU’s wider efforts to encourage innovation in teaching, improve research capabilities, and prepare academic staff for an increasingly digital professional environment.
Aligned with priorities of quality education, health and well-being, responsible artificial intelligence, research innovation, digital literacy, data privacy, ethical technology use, and professional capacity development, the training reflects MNU’s commitment to building a digitally capable academic workforce while maintaining the integrity, confidentiality, and quality essential to health sciences education and research.
