MQA flags unauthorized overseas delivery of approved programs

The Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) has identified a case where educational programs, initially approved for conduction within the Maldives, were instead carried out abroad without the authority's permission.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the MQA stated that a registered higher education and training center in the Maldives conducted these approved programs overseas and awarded certificates to foreign students. The authority did not disclose the identity of the center in question.

This issue came to the MQA's attention after official agencies in three foreign countries sought to verify the authenticity of these certificates.

The MQA also refrained from specifying the countries involved. The authority confirmed that it has informed the inquiring foreign agencies that it had not authorized any Maldivian higher education institution to conduct such a program abroad.

The MQA emphasized that this situation has led to numerous problems for the foreign students and that the center should be held responsible for these issues.

Furthermore, the agency reported that it has not granted accreditation to programs that had been accredited abroad prior to the 10th of this month, when a new regulation came into effect.

The MQA expressed concern that such incidents could undermine the trust and confidence built in Maldivian higher education institutions at the international level. Therefore, the MQA stressed that any center wishing to conduct MQA-accredited programs abroad must obtain explicit permission in accordance with the regulations governing the conduction of accredited programs overseas.

Similar cases have been reported in the past.