MQA takes action against Avid College over unauthorised foreign courses
The MQA said it had decided to make a public announcement with guidance as an initial step under the accreditation rules.
Top Stories
The Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) has taken action against Avid College for repeatedly offering courses linked to unauthorised foreign institutions.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the MQA said it had decided to make a public announcement with guidance as an initial step under the accreditation rules gazetted in September last year, following advice from its advisory board. The authority noted that action had previously been taken against Avid College for breaches of accreditation requirements.
The two-page statement, signed by MQA Chief Executive Officer Maryam Fizana Rasheed and gazetted, said courses affiliated with Amazon College in Sri Lanka and Alzet University, whose country of registration is unclear, had been conducted in violation of MQA regulations. The statement added that certificates had also been issued to students enrolled in these programmes.
According to the MQA, the violations were identified through documents submitted by qualification authorities in several countries, students, and Avid College itself.
The statement further said Avid College had advertised courses from five centres in Sri Lanka that are not registered with relevant authorities in the country. These centres were listed as:
-
Chester College of Higher Education
-
Imperial Wisdom Graduate Campus
-
Innovatus Campus
-
Ceylon College of Applied Studies
-
Between Campus
“These institutions are not registered to provide higher education with Sri Lanka’s University Grants Commission, Technical and Vocational Education and Training Corporation, or the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education,” the statement said.
The MQA said it had repeatedly advised Avid College since 29 August 2024 not to conduct programmes in violation of accreditation requirements. It also noted that a circular issued on 17 February 2025 instructed all Maldivian higher education institutions to obtain MQA approval before conducting programmes abroad.
Under the accreditation rules gazetted on 30 September 2025, the authority is required to regulate programmes conducted outside the country. “As a first step under these rules, Avid College has been advised to make this matter public,” the statement said.
