The Maldives National University (MNU) has awarded the inaugural round of the National Research Fund: Emerging Research Grants (NRF-ERG) a landmark initiative introduced in 2025 to promote and strengthen a research-based culture within the University and support scholarly work aligned with national development priorities.
The grants were presented to awardees at a ceremony held at The Maldives National University, by the Chief Guest, Ahmed Shafeeu, Minister of State for Education, Higher Education and Skills Development. The programme is supported by the National Research Council under the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development. The NRF-ERG Call 1 received a strong response from researchers across MNU, with a total of 21 proposals submitted. Following a rigorous and competitive evaluation process, 16 proposals were identified as highly meritorious.
With the total funding available under the programme capped at MVR 1.5 million (One Million Five Hundred Thousand Maldivian Rufiyaa), the 16 shortlisted 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 — utilising the full grant allocation available under the programme.
Several of the awarded projects include co-investigators from external organisations, including government agencies, reflecting the strong interdisciplinary and cross-institutional research collaboration that MNU continues to foster. 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
Research Grounded in National Priorities
The breadth and diversity of the awarded projects reflects the depth of research talent across MNU and the range of issues that matter most to the Maldives at this moment in its development. The selected projects span artificial intelligence, law and justice reform, agriculture and food security, digital education, public health, cultural heritage, cybersecurity, energy, institutional integrity, and language technology — collectively addressing some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the country.
These grants aim to strengthen research capacity across MNU, generate practical and evidence-based solutions, contribute to sound policymaking, and address issues of national significance. The inclusion of co-investigators from government agencies and external institutions further strengthens the real-world relevance and collaborative foundation of the research.
MNU congratulates all awarded researchers and acknowledges the quality and ambition of every proposal submitted under NRF-ERG Call 1.
Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals
The NRF-ERG programme and the research projects it supports connect directly with MNU’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:
SDG 4: Quality Education — by investing in academic research capacity and advancing scholarly knowledge production within the University.
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being — through research on tuberculosis screening, the generational tobacco ban, and public health practices among the Maldivian population.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure — through projects advancing AI, cybersecurity, smart farming, autonomous systems, and digital learning infrastructure.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions — through research on family law reform, police integrity, and evidence-based contributions to governance and the justice system.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals — by fostering cross-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration between MNU, government agencies, and national research bodies.
About the NRF-ERG Programme
The National Research Fund: Emerging Research Grants (NRF-ERG) was introduced by MNU in 2025 to support scholarly research aligned with national development priorities. The programme is supported by the National Research Council under the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development. Through NRF-ERG, MNU reaffirms its position as a leading institution for research, evidence-based knowledge production, and meaningful contribution to the sustainable development of the Maldives.
Tags: NRF-ERG | Research Grants | MNU Research | National Research Fund | Innovation | Academic Research | MNU News | SDG 3 | SDG 4 | SDG 9 | SDG 16 | SDG 17
