Ministry and MNU Sign Contract to Develop Fisheries Degree Curriculum.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MoFOR) and the Maldives National University (MNU) have signed a contract for the development of the curriculum for the Bachelors in Fisheries and Aquaculture course.

The signing ceremony was held on 18 September 2025 at the Ministry. Ms. Eenas Naseer, Director and Finance Executive, signed on behalf of the Ministry, while Dr. Aishath Shehenaz Adam, Vice Chancellor, signed on behalf of the Maldives National University.

This activity is made possible through the Transforming Fisheries Sector Management in the South-West Indian Ocean Region and Maldives Project (TransFORM Project), funded by the World Bank. The Project has previously awarded 17 scholarships to Maldivian students to pursue higher education abroad in a range of disciplines essential to fisheries, mariculture, aquaculture and agriculture development.

The contract will support the development of a Bachelor of Fisheries and Aquaculture program, creating new higher education opportunities in the field and strengthening national expertise in sustainable fisheries. The program will start with a one-year Foundation in Fisheries and Aquaculture, followed by a Diploma and finally bachelor’s degree. It is a full-time course that combines classroom learning with practical experience. At the Foundation and Diploma levels, students will study core modules, and from the Advanced Diploma level onwards, they can choose electives.

The program offers two study pathways: Fisheries Science and Aquaculture. Students also have the flexibility to exit the program at the end of each level and will receive a certificate for the level they have completed.

Under the contract, MNU will develop the full curriculum and course materials for the program in line with Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) standards, and deliver a complete package of modules covering fisheries science, aquaculture, resource management, climate resilience, and sustainability.

Following the development of the Course, MNU will implement the program which will be targeted to locals and participants from the South-West Indian Ocean Region Countries, on sponsorship basis from the project. The duration for the completion of this assignment is 43 months from the date of signing the contract.