The Maldives National University (MNU) continued to strengthen its research culture in 2024, with 16 research studies registered by MNU staff and students across a diverse range of disciplines. The registered research spans areas including structural engineering, Dhivehi language and education, digital evidence and law, criminology, educational technology, financial literacy, governance and corruption, corporate responsibility, workforce development, and child well-being.

The research topics reflect the broad range of academic and societal issues being explored within the University and contribute to several areas aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including quality education, decent work and economic growth, industry and innovation, sustainable communities, reduced inequalities, good health and well-being, and peace, justice and strong institutions.

1. Investigating the Stability of Maldivian High-Rise Structures Against Seismic Impact

• Researcher: Sadat Ali Khan, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: structural engineering, high-rise buildings, seismic resilience, infrastructure safety, building stability, disaster preparedness, and sustainable urban development.
  • This study investigates the stability and resilience of high-rise structures in the Maldives against seismic impacts, contributing to knowledge relevant to safe and resilient infrastructure and sustainable urban development.

2. ދިވެހީންގެ ތެރޭގައި އަމިއްލަ ނަފްސާ މުޚާޠތަބުކުރާއިރު ބޭނުންކުރާ ބަދަލު ނަންތައް ބޭނުން ކުރަނީ ބަހުގެ ގަވައިދާ އެއްގޮތަށް ހެއްޔެވެ؟ ބަދަލުނަންތައް ބޭނުންކުރުމާ މެދު އާންމުން ދެކޭ ގޮތް

• Researcher: Ahmed Hashim, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: Dhivehi language, language use, linguistic variation, self-reference, language attitudes, communication, and cultural identity.
  • This study examines the use of variant forms of self-reference in the Dhivehi language and explores public perceptions regarding their usage and conformity with established language conventions.

3. ދިރާސާގެ މައުޞޫޢު: މާލޭސިޓީގެ ސުކޫލްތަކުގެ ސާނަވީ ދަރިވަރުންގެ ޓިއުޝަންނެގުން: ދެކޭގޮތާއި ޚަރަދުކުރާ މިންވަރާއި ޓިއުޝަންނަގާ ސަބަބުތައް

• Researcher: Hameeza Afeef, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: private tutoring, secondary education, educational expenditure, access to learning support, student experiences, and educational inequality.
  • This research examines private tutoring among secondary school students in Malé, including perceptions of tutoring, expenditure patterns, and the factors influencing students’ participation in private tuition.

4. Using Video Surveillance in the Maldives: Longitudinal Analysis of the Rules Applied to Digital Evidence

• Researcher: Uza. Fathimath Waheedha, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure , SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: video surveillance, digital evidence, legal frameworks, criminal justice, evidence law, technology, and institutional practices.
  • This study examines the use of video surveillance and the application of rules governing digital evidence in the Maldives, contributing to understanding the relationship between emerging technologies and legal and justice systems.

5. އެސްއެސްސީ އަދި އެޗްއެސްސީ ދިވެހިބަހުގެ އިމްތިހާނުގެ ސުވާލު ކަރުދާސްތަކުގެ ފެންވަރު: ކުއަލިޓޭޓިވް އެނަލިސިސް

• Researcher: Ahmed Hashim, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: assessment, examination quality, Dhivehi language education, educational standards, curriculum, and learning outcomes.
  • This research examines the quality of Dhivehi examination question papers used at the SSC and HSC levels through qualitative analysis, contributing to discussions on assessment practices and educational quality.

6. From Gangs to Serious Crime: Criminological Discourse of Organized Crime in the Maldives

• Researcher: Batool Zahoor Qazi, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: organised crime, gangs, criminology, serious crime, criminal justice, social structures, and public safety.
  • This study explores organised crime in the Maldivian context through a criminological perspective, examining the relationship between gang activity and serious crime.

7. Social and Emotional Learning: A Case Study of an Outlier School in the Maldives

• Researcher: Nadheema Abdul Sattar, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: social and emotional learning, student well-being, education, school environment, emotional development, and inclusive learning.
  • This research examines social and emotional learning within an outlier school in the Maldives, contributing to understanding approaches that support students’ social, emotional and educational development.

8. Enhancing Learning Journeys: A Comprehensive Study of User Experience (UX) Design in E-Learning Platforms

• Researcher: Niuma Mohamed, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: e-learning, user experience, educational technology, digital learning, learner engagement, platform design, and educational innovation.
  • This study examines user experience in e-learning platforms, with the aim of contributing to improved digital learning experiences and more effective technology-enabled education.

9. Needs Analysis for Effective Implementation of Adaptive Personalised E-Learning in Higher Education: The Case of The Maldives National University

• Researcher: Ibrahim Adam, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure ,  SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: personalised learning, adaptive e-learning, higher education, educational technology, learner needs, digital transformation, and innovation.
  • This research investigates the needs and requirements for implementing adaptive personalised e-learning in higher education, with a particular focus on the context of The Maldives National University.

10. Financial Literacy of Students in the North of the Maldives

• Researcher: Dr. Shazra Ibrahim, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: financial literacy, student knowledge, financial decision-making, economic awareness, and life skills.
  • This study examines financial literacy among students in the northern Maldives, contributing to understanding students’ financial knowledge and preparedness for informed financial decision-making.

11. The Political Economy of Administrative Corruption: Empirical Evaluation and Exploration of the Factors Contributing Towards Administrative Corruption Among Public Sector Employees of Maldives

• Researcher: Dr. Aminath Sudha, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: administrative corruption, public sector, governance, institutional integrity, political economy, accountability, and public administration.
  • This research examines factors associated with administrative corruption among public sector employees in the Maldives, contributing to research on governance, accountability and institutional integrity.

12. Public Perceptions of Administrative Corruption and Their Relationship to Social Equity and Social Norms

• Researcher: Dr. Ahmed Inaz, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities ,  SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: public perceptions, administrative corruption, social equity, social norms, governance, and institutional trust.
  • This study explores public perceptions of administrative corruption and examines their relationship with social equity and prevailing social norms in the Maldivian context.

13. Exploring Corporate Zakat Disclosure for Public Limited Companies in the Maldives: Regulatory, Administrative, and Social Implications

• Researcher: Ali Nafiz, The Maldives National University
• • SDG Alignment: SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: corporate governance, Zakat disclosure, public limited companies, regulatory frameworks, accountability, corporate reporting, and social responsibility.
  • This research examines corporate Zakat disclosure among public limited companies in the Maldives and considers its regulatory, administrative and social implications.

14. Island Destination Workforce Development and Inclusion

• Researcher: Dr. Zeenaz Hussain, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: tourism workforce, island destinations, workforce development, employment, inclusion, skills development, and economic participation.
  • This study examines workforce development and inclusion in island tourism destinations, contributing to discussions on skills development, employment opportunities and inclusive economic participation.

15. The Influence of Home Environment and Parenting Styles on the Behavior and Well-being of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Researcher: Niuma Mohamed, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities, SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: child well-being, autism, parenting styles, home environment, behavioural development, family support, inclusion, and quality of life.
  • This research explores the influence of the home environment and parenting styles on the behaviour and well-being of children with autism spectrum disorder, contributing to understanding family and environmental factors relevant to child development and inclusion.

16. Assessing Digital Competencies Among Lifelong Learners at University

• Researcher: Aminath Zifna, The Maldives National University
  • SDG Alignment: SDG 4 – Quality Education; SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure , SDG Alignment: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
  • Focus: digital competencies, lifelong learning, higher education, digital literacy, technology skills, professional development, and digital transformation.
  • This study assesses digital competencies among lifelong learners at university, contributing to understanding the digital skills required to support continued learning and participation in an increasingly technology-enabled society.

Strengthening MNU’s Research Culture

Collectively, the 16 research studies registered in 2024 demonstrate the breadth of research interests within the Maldives National University and the University’s engagement with issues relevant to national development and society.

The studies cover infrastructure resilience, language and education, private tutoring, digital evidence, assessment quality, organised crime, social and emotional learning, e-learning, financial literacy, governance and corruption, corporate responsibility, tourism workforce development, child well-being, and digital competencies.

Through continued research registration and institutional support, MNU is contributing to the generation of knowledge and evidence across diverse fields while supporting research areas connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These studies also reflect the University’s role in encouraging research that responds to educational, social, economic, technological and institutional priorities in the Maldives.