Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Physiotherapy programme at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), The Maldives National University (MNU), undertake clinical placements throughout the year at healthcare institutions across the Maldives, providing opportunities to develop and demonstrate essential clinical and professional competencies in real-world healthcare settings.

Approximately 40 physiotherapy students participate in placements across Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), ADK Hospital, Hulhumalé Hospital, Addu Equatorial Hospital, and Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital. The placements expose students to clinical environments in Malé and different regions of the country, extending practical learning beyond the university setting.

During the placements, students work with MNU lecturers, clinical supervisors, and educators who guide their learning and assess their development. Three MNU staff members are involved in supporting the placement experience. Students apply knowledge and skills gained through their academic studies while developing competencies required for physiotherapy practice.

Clinical placements form an important component of physiotherapy education by allowing students to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience. Through supervised learning in healthcare settings, students strengthen their clinical reasoning, professional communication, patient management, teamwork, and other competencies relevant to professional practice. Their performance during placements is assessed as part of their professional growth and learning.

The involvement of multiple healthcare institutions also strengthens the connection between physiotherapy education and clinical practice. By working alongside healthcare professionals, students gain exposure to service delivery within different institutional and regional contexts while developing a clearer understanding of their future roles within the health system.

These placement opportunities contribute to FHS’s efforts to prepare physiotherapy graduates with the competencies required for professional practice and support the development of the health workforce in the Maldives. The collaboration between MNU and healthcare institutions also reflects the importance of partnerships in providing high-quality clinical education.

The initiative contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being through health workforce development, SDG 4: Quality Education through practice-based learning, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration between the University and healthcare institutions.