The Maldives National University (MNU) awards National Research Fund: Emerging Research Grants (NRF-ERG) to promote and strengthen a research-based culture within the University. Introduced in 2025, these grants aim to support scholarly research that align with national development priorities. This initiative is supported by the National Research Council under the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development
The grants were awarded to the nominees during the ceremony held at Maldives National University, by the Chief Guest, Ahmed Shafeeu, Minister of State for Education, Higher Education and Skills Development.
The National Research Fund- Emerging Research Grants (NRF-ERG) programme received a strong response from researchers across The Maldives National University, with a total of 21 proposals submitted. Following a rigorous and competitive evaluation process, 16 proposals were identified as highly meritorious. As the total funding available under the NRF-ERG Programme was capped at MVR 1.5 million (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Maldivian Rufiyaa), these 16 proposals underwent a second round of evaluation and ranking. Based on the outcomes of this process, the 11 highest-ranked proposals were selected for funding, utilizing the full grant allocation available under the programme.
Several of these proposals included co-investigators from external organisations, including government agencies, reflecting strong interdisciplinary and cross-institutional research collaboration. These grants aim to strengthen research capacity, generate practical solutions, contribute to evidence-based policymaking, and address issues of national.
The projects awarded under National Research Fund – Emerging Research Grants (NRF-ERG) Call 1 are:
Project Title: AEGIS-M: An Edge-AI System for Automated Drowning Detection and Harbor Security
Principal Investigator:
Mariyam Humra
Co-Investigator(s):
Dr. Ahmed Zahir
Dr. Ubaidhullah Abdul Hameed
Project Title: Revisiting Family Law in the Maldives: Gender Equality, Access to Justice, and Pathways for Reform
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer
Co-Investigator(s):
Dr. Marium Jabyn
Project Title: Smart Farming in the Maldives: An AI-Based Approach to Strengthen Agricultural Productivity and Economic Diversification
Principal Investigator:
Ibrahim Adam
Co-Investigator(s):
Ibrahim Hassaan
Dr. Nadhiya Abdulla
Project Title: Automated Moodle Course Quality Monitoring and Learning Analytics Plugin for MQA-Aligned e-Learning Governance
Principal Investigator:
Roza Ibrahim
Co-Investigator(s):
Dr. Ali Fawaz Shareef
Dr. Raheema Abdul Raheem
Ibrahim Adam
Hassan Malaz
Mariyam Fizaana Rashyd
Project Title: A Baseline Study on the Initial Implementation of the Generational Tobacco Ban in the Maldives
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Asiya Ibrahim
Co-Investigator(s):
Dr. Aishath Shanoora
Dr. Fathimath Shafeega
Dr. Aminath Shiyama
Fathimath Najudha
Project Title:
Collecting, Documenting, Analyzing and Digitizing Maldivian Folklore (ދިވެހި ފޯކްލޯ ފުރޭފުކޮށް، ތަހުލީލުކޮށް، މާނައާ އެކު ސުމޭކުކޮށް އާއްމުކުރުން)
Principal Investigator:
Azeeza Afeef
Co-Investigator:
Dr. Maryam Mariya
Aaidha Hammadh
Project Title: Assessing Cyber Resilience Maturity in the Maldivian Financial Sector: Risks, Readiness, and Policy Responses
Principal Investigator:
Mohamed Shamoon
Co-Investigator(s):
Dr Ahmed Ibrahim
Dr. Ali Fawaz Shareef
Dr. Simad Saeed
Aisha Rasheed
Ali Akhthamy
Aminath Jeen
Fathimath Sana
Aishath Shaheen
Project Title: Analysis of Household Electricity Consumption for Cooling in Malé Region
Principal Investigator:
Aminath Shazly
Co-Investigator(s):
Fathimath Raufa Moosa
Mohamed Inaz
Project Title: Public Perception Towards the Integrity of Maldives Police Service
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Shuaib Rasheed
Co-Investigator(s):
Fathimath Shareef
Nafha Hussain
Dr. Mariyam Shahuneeza Naseer
Dr. Nadhiya Abdulla
Project Title: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Tuberculosis Screening and Diagnosis Among the Working-Age Population in the Greater Malé Area, Maldives: A Cross-Sectional Study
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Mohamed Sam-aan Hussain
Co-Investigator(s):
Dr. Shazla Mohamed
Dr. Aishath Shaheen Ismail
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Sulaiman
Mohamed Zaid
Dr. Aishath Niyaf
Project Title: Dhivehi Reference Manager with Parallel English Styles and Word/Browser Integration
Principal Investigator:
Ahmed Hashim
Co-Investigator:
Ibrahim Adam
With its continued commitment to supporting scholarly research and academic writing, the NRF-ERG Call 1 are expected to further strengthen research capacity, promote innovation, and foster knowledge exchange among MNU academic and administrative staff, reinforcing the University’s position as a leading institution for research and evidence-based contributions to national development
