Ms. Zeenath Shakir is a Lecturer in the Department of Behavioural Sciences at the Faculty of Health Sciences, The Maldives National University. She is primarily teaching Bachelor of Social Work and Advanced Certificate in Social Services Work. Her work consists of preparation of teaching and assessment materials and revision of curriculum to meet the required academic standards. She engages in diverse roles such as serving as a member of the MNU Research Ethics Committee and Faculty Quality Management Committee (2022-2024), and previously having served the Academic Review Committee (2022) at FHS. Currently she is the co-investigator to conduct research on ‘Wellbeing of Correctional Officers in the Maldives’ and co-author of developing a Dhivehi-language book on ‘understanding and prevention of self-harm’.
She had experience working alongside the Research Development Office conducting research on ‘Disengagement of Maldivian Youth: A Public Perception Study’ for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment in 2022. She has successfully mobilised a team to lead two Small Grant Schemes provided by the Australian Government for Australia Awards Alumni to implement a community awareness advocacy project, ‘Building resilient communities to address child abuse and gender-based violence’ in Laamu Atoll in 2022 and ‘Capacity building of teachers on occupational therapy’ in Lh. Naifaru and Male’ in 2023.
Prior to joining the FHS full-time, she has worked as a part-time lecturer since 2013. She has extensive experience in social service sector for over 12 years working at public organisations as a social service case worker, management of projects related to gender, child rights and disability and advocate for prevention of gender-based violence and domestic violence. She has experience in implementation of Integrated Governance Programme (IGP) at UNDP Maldives. She is a proactive member in voluntary organisations such as the Maldivian Red Crescent, Hope for Women and Maldives Australia Alumni.
Zeenath pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (First Class Honours) from UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur and Master of Development Studies from University of Melbourne, Australia. She is an alumnus of Faculty of Health Sciences by graduating with the second cohort of Advanced Certificate in Counselling. Currently, she is studying Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education from Faculty of Education.
