The Maldives National University (MNU) and Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance marine research and education, creating a “living laboratory” in the heart of the Indian Ocean. The agreement was signed by Vice Chancellor Dr. Aishath Shehenaz Adam on behalf of MNU and Elias Pertoft, General Manager of Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, during a ceremony held at the university’s central campus in Malé.

Under the MoU, the resort’s expansive house reef and surrounding lagoon will serve as a living laboratory for MNU students and faculty through the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS), providing immersive field-based research opportunities. Joint research initiatives will focus on coral reef health monitoring to evaluate resilience against bleaching events, as well as longitudinal population studies of megafauna such as reef sharks and sea turtles. By co-designing research questions, both partners ensure that scientific findings directly inform the resort’s conservation management strategies, delivering immediate practical impact alongside long-term ecological insights.

The partnership goes beyond research. Through the Banyan Tree Marine Lab—MNU students will receive professional internships and hands-on training in scientific diving, ecological monitoring, and conservation techniques under the guidance of resident marine biologists.