The Maldives National University (MNU) today officially commenced its inaugural MNU Mahasama (Learning Festiva)l, a five-day programme running from 19 to 23 July 2026, welcoming children and young people to a week of engaging, hands-on learning experiences designed to make the school holidays both enjoyable and meaningful.
The Mahasama has been organised under MNU’s Furaatha (Giving Back to Society) Programme, an initiative that reflects the University’s commitment to sharing knowledge, serving the community, and creating meaningful learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Through the programme, MNU seeks to contribute to the personal, educational, and social development of children and young people by providing enriching learning experiences that complement formal schooling. The initiative reflects MNU’s commitment to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), while also contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Running throughout this week, the Festival brings together MNU’s academics and subject experts to facilitate interactive workshops for students aged 9 to 18 years. Rather than traditional classroom teaching, the sessions encourage participants to learn through exploration, discovery, collaboration, creativity, and practical application, making learning both enjoyable and relevant to everyday life.
The Festival has been designed to foster a lifelong love of learning while inspiring children and young people to explore different subjects beyond their regular school curriculum. Through engaging and enjoyable activities, participants are encouraged to develop confidence, curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, while strengthening literacy, numeracy, scientific thinking, and other essential life skills.
The programme features eight exciting focus areas: Storytelling in Action, Vaahkaige Dhuniye, Islamic Values and Etiquette in Everyday Life, Innovate with Robotics, Exploring Numbers and Everyday Mathematics, Discovering Science Through Exploration, Building Wellbeing and Resilience, and Learning Smarter: Time and Study Skills. Each workshop has been carefully designed to be age-appropriate, interactive, and hands-on, encouraging participants to ask questions, investigate, experiment, collaborate with others, and discover how learning connects to everyday life and future aspirations.
Commenting on the launch of the MNU Learning Festival, Vice Chancellor Dr. Aishath Shehenaz Adam said:
“At MNU, we believe that learning should be enjoyable, inspiring, and accessible to everyone. School holidays provide a wonderful opportunity for children and young people to discover new interests, develop practical skills, and experience the excitement of learning beyond the classroom.
Through the MNU Learning Festival (Mahasama), we hope to nurture curiosity, foster a lifelong love of learning, and inspire participants to explore subjects they may never have considered before. By bringing together experts from different disciplines, we aim to broaden young people’s horizons, encourage creativity and critical thinking, and help them discover new passions that may shape their future educational and career aspirations.
The MNU Mahasama reflects the spirit of MNU’s Furaatha (Giving Back to Society) Programme, through which we share our knowledge and expertise with the wider community. I extend my sincere gratitude to our academic, administrative and professional staff, organisers, volunteers, and everyone who has worked with such dedication and enthusiasm to bring this Festival to life. Their willingness to give their time, expertise, and energy for the benefit of our young people is commendable and exemplifies MNU’s commitment to serving the community through education. I also thank the parents and guardians for placing their trust in us and encouraging their children to take part in this exciting learning journey.“
The MNU Mahasama has received an encouraging response from students and parents, reflecting a strong interest in meaningful learning opportunities during the school holidays. MNU hopes that this pilot initiative will become the foundation for a sustainable programme that continues to inspire young people, strengthen lifelong learning, and further enhance the University’s engagement with the wider community.
Feedback gathered from participants, parents, and facilitators during the Festival will be used to further strengthen the Furaatha (Giving Back to Society) Programme, supporting MNU’s vision of expanding community outreach and lifelong learning opportunities across the Maldives. Through initiatives such as the Mahasama, MNU continues to strengthen its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals by providing inclusive, innovative, and community-centred learning opportunities for young people.
