The four-year journey of the Professional Development Workshop on Library and Information Services (PDWL) was shared with the wider Maldives National University community through a presentation at the MNU Learning and Teaching Symposium. The presentation highlighted how sustained professional development, international exposure, reflective practice, collaboration, and knowledge exchange can contribute to strengthening professional capacity and enhancing quality learning.
The presentation reflected on the development of PDWL over four years and explored how the programme has evolved as a professional learning initiative for Maldivian library and information professionals. By bringing together international exposure, institutional visits, professional engagement, workshops, networking, and reflection, PDWL has provided participants with opportunities to encounter diverse professional practices and consider their relevance to the Maldivian context.
A key focus of the presentation was the learning model developed through the PDWL experience, which connects different stages of professional learning. The model brings together pre-departure preparation, experiential engagement, reflection, and local application, creating a continuous learning cycle rather than treating international exposure as a standalone experience.
Pre-departure preparation establishes shared expectations and learning objectives, while experiential engagement allows participants to observe professional practices and interact with institutions and practitioners in different contexts. Reflection then provides an opportunity to critically consider the knowledge and experiences gained, while local application encourages participants to identify ideas and practices that can be adapted to their own professional environments.
The presentation also highlighted the importance of learning through professional networks and collaboration. Across its four-year journey, PDWL has created opportunities for participants to engage with professionals, institutions, and organisations beyond the Maldives. These connections have supported knowledge exchange and broadened participants’ understanding of developments across the library and information sector.
Sharing the PDWL experience at the MNU Learning and Teaching Symposium extended this learning beyond the original programme participants. The presentation provided an opportunity for the wider MNU community to learn from the programme’s experiences and consider how similar approaches to professional development, experiential learning, reflection, and knowledge sharing can contribute to education and capacity development.
The initiative contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education by promoting lifelong learning, continuous professional development, reflective practice, and the sharing of effective approaches to teaching and learning. The PDWL learning model demonstrates how professional experiences can be transformed into broader learning through structured preparation, engagement, reflection, and application.
The programme also supports SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth through its focus on strengthening professional competencies, expanding knowledge, and supporting the continuous development of library and information professionals. By creating opportunities for participants to develop professionally and apply new knowledge in their workplaces, PDWL contributes to workforce capacity building.
Furthermore, the presentation demonstrated the importance of collaboration and professional networks, contributing to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The PDWL journey has been supported by collaboration among higher education institutions, professional organisations, international partners, facilitators, and participants, creating opportunities for sustained knowledge exchange and professional connections.
By bringing the four-year PDWL experience to the wider MNU community, the presentation demonstrated how professional development can extend beyond individual participants and contribute to institutional learning. The sharing of experiences, lessons, and approaches creates opportunities for wider application and encourages a culture of continuous learning and knowledge exchange across the University.
The “Four Years of PDWL: From Professional Development to Transformative Learning” presentation therefore highlighted the value of sustained professional learning and demonstrated how international exposure can become more meaningful when combined with preparation, reflection, collaboration, and local application. It reinforced the potential of professional development initiatives to create lasting learning, strengthen professional networks, and contribute to continuous improvement in education and professional practice.
