Courses breaching standards will not be recognized: MQA

Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) has said it will not recognise certificates from certain programmes offered by Sri Lankan universities in collaboration with foreign institutions if they violate permitted standards.

In a statement issued today, the agency noted that some Sri Lankan universities, which attract large numbers of Maldivian students, were running joint programmes with other countries. Certificates from such programmes would not be accepted in the Maldives, it said.

MQA urged students to verify whether the institutions they plan to study at meet the authority’s standards and are recognized under the national qualifications framework. It said students should obtain an “intended document” from MQA before pursuing further studies abroad.

The authority said that Sri Lanka’s Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission approves programmes below higher diploma level, while the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education approve postgraduate programmes.

However, some centres were running higher-level courses in partnership with foreign institutions without proper authorization.

MQA warned that certificates from programmes conducted in violation of approved standards would not be recognized in Maldives. Institutions were also advised to exercise caution before entering agreements with foreign centres to deliver MQA-accredited programmes abroad.