Nationalism scholarships awarded to 40 recipients

The Signature Research Scholarship has been awarded to 40 recipients.

The scholarship was introduced by the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) and the Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage.

This program is sponsored by the National Institute for Maldivian Heritage Research where people can do their Masters at the Islamic University.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had announced that 60 people applied for the program under the national project set to restore Maldivian nationalism. However, only 40 people received the scholarship.

Academic research under the scholarship has a timeframe of two years. The government introduced this scholarship in order to create more heritage scholars, with them having the opportunity to work at the National Heritage Committee twice a month.

They will also receive the opportunity to develop a skill related to the heritage field, along with the opportunity to publish scholarly research books regarding the field.

During the scholarship award ceremony, Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage Adam Naseer said that this is an opportunity for revolutionary change in the field of Maldivian heritage. He also said that this change is connected to the reality and characteristics of Maldivians, along with Maldivians looking at the reality and characteristics of other countries through an academic framework.

"It is in this vein heritage scholarships have been announced. There are other works being done in regards to heritage," said Adam Naseer.

He went on to say that the purpose of the scholarship is to carry Maldivian heritage forward to future generations.

Vice Chancellor of IUM Dr. Ali Zaheer said that this will only expand the research and work they have been conducting on Maldivian heritage over the last two years or so.

The direction IUM is headed in is the expansion of expanding research and make Maldives popular to other countries, with the result of changing the university's framework being them becoming a place where they can lead projects in other countries, said the minister.

He also said that the university has become a leader in academics at a national level.