Dr. Mohamed Umar is an assistant professor at Faculty of Education in the Maldives National University (MNU). He joined MNU in 2012. 

Prior to his current position, he worked as a qualified teacher in Jalaluddin School where he taught IGCSE English as a Second Language, Certificate of Advanced English, and Economics for O’ Level and A’ Level students, and acted as a leading teacher. From Jan 2022 to Oct 2023, he served MNU as Kulhudhuffushi Campus manager. 

He currently teaches Research Methods in Education, and Sociology of Education. He has developed modules for master’s level courses in Faculty of Education and Faculty of Arts, and has supervised a number of research projects at master’s degree level and pre-doctoral foundation. He has also reviewed papers for several issues of Maldives National Journal of Research (MNJR), and International Conference on Social Research and Innovation (ICSRI).

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education from Taylor’s University (Malaysia), 2021.
• Master of Education (M.Ed.) from the University of Melbourne (Australia), 2008.
• Bachelor of Teaching Secondary (English Language & Economics) from the Maldives College of Higher Education (MCHE) – the precursor to MNU, 2005.

• Artificial Intelligence in Education
• Critical Thinking
• Curriculum and Pedagogy 
• Language Education
• Philosophy

• Assessment and Evaluation
• Introduction to Curriculum Studies
• Instructional Psychology
• Philosophy of Education
• Research Methods in Education
• Sociology of Education
• Teaching and Learning English

PhD Research

• Fathuhullah Ahmed (s002178) (PhD student/Faculty of Arts/MNU): Dhivehibahuge sukunuge bahavee sifathakaai hama’aai dhauraai onigandu: Ekuvithareegaathuge Hoadhaabelumuge Tharutheebee Farumaain Hadhaa Dhiraasaaeh {Role: Principal supervisor; Status: Ongoing since 1st August 2025}
• Aishath Hassan (s012180) (PhD student/Faculty of Education/MNU): Investigating Changes in Language Teachers’ Perception and Application of Universal Design of Learning in Multi-Grade Classrooms: A Case Study of Maldives {Role: Co-supervisor; Status: Ongoing since August 26, 2024}

Master’s Degree Dissertation

• Ashraf Ali (MA student/Faculty of Arts/MNU): The Inflectional Derivative Forms of Connectives in Dhivehi Language {Role: Principal supervisor; Status: Completed from 12th Jan 2015 – 30th June 2015}

Undergraduate Dissertation

• Wajidha Haaroon (BA student/Faculty of Arts/MNU): Cohesive Devices and Strategies in Dhivehi Language Writing Across Different Eras (Role: Principal Supervisor; Status: Completed from 12th Jan 2015 to 30th June 2015).

• Navigating Multiple Subjectivities: A Reflexive Examination of Positionality, Insider Research, and Researcher Agency in Qualitative Inquiry – from 15th March 2026 – ongoing critical review
• “Exploring Critical Thinking through Drama Pedagogy in Maldivian Context” – ongoing research 
• “Thangeedhee Visnun: Thabee’athaai Ungannaidhinumaai Vazankurun” {Forthcoming book} – MNU Book Writing Grant (2023)
• Umar, M. (2024). Thauleemuge Falsafaa. Ministry of Education: Male’. {Forthcoming book} – LAMP Project Grant (2022)

Conference Proceedings

• Presented a paper entitled “Improving Argumentative Writing Skills of ESL Students using Toulmin’s Model: An Action-Research in a Maldivian Secondary School” at the International Conference on Social Research and Innovation (2023) held from 17th – 18th June 2023 at Male’, Maldives.

Papers and Reports

• Umar, M. (2023). Improving students’ argumentative writing skills using Toulmin’s Model of Argumentation: An action-research study in a Maldivian secondary school {Research Report}. Tata Institute of Social Sciences: India. 
• Waseema, F., Umar, M., Ahmed, M., et al. (2022). Teaching as a Career: Perception, Value, and Choice in the Maldives. The Maldives National University: Male’. 
• Umar, M. (2021). Enacting creative and critical thinking competency: A case study of curriculum reform in the Maldives {PhD Thesis}. Malaysia: Taylors University (e-repository). 
• Umar, M. (2019). Teacher agency: Its role and manifestation in curriculum reform in a small island developing state. Improving Schools, 22(1), 20-25. 
• Umar, M. (2013). Demystifying international education: Concepts, ideas and ideologies. Maldives National Journal of Research, 1, 57-71.

• The “Best Paper (Career Researcher) Award” for the paper entitled “Improving Argumentative Writing Skills of ESL Students using Toulmin’s Model: An Action-Research in a Maldivian Secondary School” at the International Conference on Social Research and Innovation (2023) held from 17th – 18th June 2023 at Male’, Maldives. 
• The Maldives National University Staff Development Scholarship (2016) for PhD in Education.
• AusAID scholarship (2007) to pursue Master of Education in Australia.
• The President’s Award for the First Position in the Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) course at The Maldives College of Higher Education in 2005.