The Maldives National University (MNU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Higher Education, Labor and Skills Development to implement a nationwide training program aimed at strengthening verbal communication and foreign language skills among Maldivian youth. The signing ceremony was graced by the Minister of Higher Education, Labor and Skills Development, Dr. Ali Haidar Ahmed; Minister of State, Mr. Ahmed Shafiu, Vice Chancellor of MNU, Dr. Aishath Shehenaz Adam, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Maldives, Dr. Ali Zahir; senior officials from the Ministry; and heads of various universities.
Under this partnership, MNU will train a total of 425 students across multiple languages, including Mandarin, French, German, Japanese, Arabic, and Italian. One of the most significant features of this initiative is that tuition fees will be fully covered by the government, ensuring that financially disadvantaged students can access these learning opportunities without barriers. This strategic program directly supports one of the President’s pledges to establish regional language centers operated by MNU in three parts of the Maldives, outside the capital Male’. These centers will make language education more accessible to people across the nation.
Speaking at the ceremony, representatives from MNU emphasized that this initiative will bring far-reaching benefits to both the education sector and the Maldivian economy. By equipping youth with multilingual communication skills, the program is expected to enhance Maldivian participation in the tourism industry, open up new employment opportunities, and improve international competitiveness.
Given that the Maldives welcomes millions of visitors each year—many from countries where languages such as Mandarin, Arabic, French, German, Russian, and Korean are spoken—this training program will specifically benefit resort staff, airport employees, tour guides, and customer service professionals, as well as individuals aspiring to join the tourism workforce.
MNU believes this initiative marks a pivotal step in national skill development, offering Maldivian youth the opportunity to build meaningful careers and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
