Lecturers from the Department of Arabic Language, Faculty of Arts, The Maldives National University (MNU), undertook a professional development visit to Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) from 6 to 9 September 2026. Hosted by USIM’s Faculty of Major Language Studies, the visit provided opportunities for academic learning, professional exchange, cultural engagement, and the exploration of long-term institutional collaboration.

A key component of the visit was an Academic Collaboration and Cultural Exchange Discussion, during which academics from MNU and USIM exchanged experiences and discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions. The discussions covered research collaboration, faculty mobility, community service, curriculum development, academic and institutional programmes, and the extension of the Advisory Council.

The engagement enabled lecturers to exchange academic perspectives and explore approaches to language education, research, and professional development. Discussions on curriculum development and academic programmes also created opportunities to consider how institutional expertise could be shared to support teaching and learning in Arabic language studies.

The visit further strengthened professional networks between the two universities and provided a foundation for exploring future collaborative activities. Potential areas of cooperation included joint research, academic exchanges, community-oriented initiatives, and continued engagement between faculty members. These discussions established opportunities for further collaboration, subject to future planning and agreement between the institutions.

The professional development visit reflects the Faculty of Arts’ commitment to strengthening international academic relationships and supporting the continued development of its lecturers. The initiative contributed to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by supporting professional learning and exploring collaboration in curriculum development; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through opportunities for professional development and academic capacity-building; SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) through the potential for inclusive academic exchange and knowledge-sharing across institutions and countries; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through engagement between MNU and USIM to explore sustained cooperation in research, teaching, and community service.