Villa College and South Asian University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 19 December 2025, formalising a new partnership aimed at strengthening academic collaboration and higher education development across South Asia.
The agreement sets out a framework for cooperation focused on faculty and student exchange, joint research programmes, and shared academic initiatives intended to deepen regional understanding and intellectual engagement. By bringing together two institutions with a shared emphasis on academic quality, the partnership seeks to expand opportunities for collaboration across borders.
Under the MoU, both institutions will work jointly on curriculum development, teaching initiatives, and academic events including conferences, seminars, and summer and winter schools. The exchange of academic publications and educational resources also forms part of the agreement, supporting wider access to research and learning materials for staff and students.
The partnership further provides for the development of dual and joint degree programmes, joint supervision of Master’s and Doctoral students, staff development activities, and mutual recognition of academic qualifications. These measures are expected to improve academic mobility and create more flexible pathways for higher education within the region.
Cultural exchange and collaborative research are also central to the agreement. Joint cultural programmes and research initiatives are intended to contribute to the preservation and promotion of South Asia’s shared cultural heritage, while strengthening people-to-people connections between the Maldives and India.
The MoU reflects a broader commitment by both institutions to building strong academic networks, supporting regional leadership, and contributing to knowledge creation and sustainable development across South Asia.
