The Maldives National University (MNU) has been awarded global accreditation by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in the United Kingdom. This recognition by QAA, an independent authority revered for its role in assuring educational excellence worldwide, marks a significant milestone for MNU and underscores its commitment to quality.
MNU’s Vice Chancellor Dr Mohamed Shareef expressed his deep gratification at a press conference on Saturday, extending his gratitude to the university’s community for their pivotal contributions. He hailed the accreditation as the culmination of a journey that began in 2021, demonstrating MNU’s steadfast dedication to maintaining the highest quality in all of its services.
The QAA is tasked with the evaluation of UK universities to ensure they meet stringent standards of quality. However, international institutions, such as MNU, can voluntarily seek the International Quality Review (IQR) to gain accreditation. MNU’s success in the rigorous IQR process in October is a testament to its unwavering pursuit of academic excellence.
Chris Bland, QAA’s Head of Accreditation and Consultancy, shared the agency’s pleasure in MNU’s achievement and anticipated future collaborations with the institution. The accreditation, which is valid for five years, aligns international institutions with the European Higher Education Area’s standards and guidelines for quality assurance.
The comprehensive review process spanned nearly two years and encompassed an in-depth evaluation of MNU’s governance, teaching and learning practices, curriculum design, student support, and internal quality assurance. MNU commendably met all 10 standards as per Part 1 of the ESG, with the review team spotlighting MNU’s robust industry links, outreach to prospective students, and quality assurance initiatives as areas of exemplary practice.