- Villa College became the first Maldivian higher education institution to receive an overall five-star QS Stars rating.
- It earned five stars in teaching, employability, online learning, global engagement, governance and environmental impact, with four stars in other areas.
- At the announcement event, Vice Rector Dr Ali Najeeb launched an Alumni Mentoring Initiative connecting graduates with experienced professionals.
Villa College has received an overall five-star rating under the QS Stars system, becoming the first higher education institution in the Maldives to achieve the recognition.
The rating was announced at the VC Breakfast networking event held on 13 July. QS Stars assesses institutions against defined standards across areas such as teaching, graduate employability, governance, international engagement and environmental performance, rather than placing them in a conventional university league table.
Villa College received five-star ratings for teaching, employability, online learning, global engagement, good governance and environmental impact. It was awarded four stars for academic development, diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the strength of its Master of Business Administration programme.
Vice Rector Dr Ali Najeeb said the assessment indicates that the college’s teaching standards and administrative systems meet international benchmarks. He also described the result as an important development for the wider Maldivian higher education sector.
During the event, Dr Najeeb announced an Alumni Mentoring Initiative aimed at connecting recent graduates with experienced professionals. The programme will focus on leadership, workplace readiness and other skills required in the corporate sector.
QS India Chair Dr Ashwin Fernandes also addressed the gathering, discussing how smaller countries can develop talent capable of competing internationally. He said the QS Stars framework evaluates several aspects of institutional performance, providing a broader assessment than systems based on a single indicator.
The assessment also recognised Villa College’s internal governance, staff engagement and use of renewable energy in its operations. Its multicultural student community and involvement in international research partnerships contributed to its performance across the evaluated categories.
The rating provides Villa College with an external assessment of its academic and administrative systems as it seeks to expand its role in higher education and workforce development in the Maldives.
