- The Cabinet backed a proposal on 1 November for the Maldives to join two UNESCO conventions on recognising higher education qualifications.
- The Tokyo Convention and the Global Convention would give graduates clearer routes to degree recognition abroad and a common framework for assessing foreign qualifications.
- The Maldives Qualifications Authority and UNESCO have begun preparatory work on a national information centre for reliable qualification data.
Maldivian graduates could have a clearer route to having their degrees recognised abroad after the Cabinet backed a proposal to join two UNESCO conventions on higher education qualifications. The agreements would also give the Maldives a common framework for assessing qualifications earned overseas.
The Cabinet endorsed the proposal on 1 November after considering a paper from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu will submit it to the People’s Majlis for approval under Article 93(a) of the Constitution.
The proposal covers the Tokyo Convention, which applies across participating countries in the Asia-Pacific, and the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education. Both set common rules for how participating countries assess foreign qualifications. For a Maldivian graduate applying for postgraduate study abroad, that could make it easier to understand how their degree will be evaluated.
A UNESCO assessment found that joining the conventions could bring the Maldives’ recognition procedures closer to international standards and make it easier for international students and academic staff to study or work in the country. UNESCO and the Maldives Qualifications Authority also consulted local stakeholders on the proposal.
The authority and UNESCO have separately begun preparatory work on a national information centre. The proposed centre would provide universities, employers and regulators with reliable information on Maldivian qualifications and how they are assessed.
