FIRST PRIVATE COLLEGE IN MALDIVES

At the beginning of 21st century, the number of high school leavers in Maldives was on the increase and the number of scholarship opportunities to study abroad was declining. The only higher education option for the high school leavers was the state-owned college with limited opportunities. At a time when higher education was seen as inferior, Villa College redefined the country’s private higher education, establishing itself on equal footing with public higher education.

Today, Villa College, established by the Chairman of Villa Group, Honourable Dr Qasim Ibrahim, is the leading private higher education institution in the Maldives, providing educational opportunities for Maldivians at an affordable price, within the country. Initially established as a training institute on 28 January 2007, Villa College upgraded its status, becoming the first private college in the Maldives in less than ten months from its inception. Over the years, Villa College has expanded not only in size but in stature and diversity as well. The journey that started in October 2007 with only 20 students has grown to over 3,000 students learning across a number of diverse disciplines making it one of the foremost and popular colleges in the Maldives. Within just five years, Villa College grew in terms of academic and administrative capacity, and today programmes in the areas of Accounting, Business, Education, Hospitality, Computer Science, Multimedia Technology, Law, Public Health, Marine Studies, and Shariah are on offer in Villa College.

In addition, opportunities for students in skills training and professional studies in Accountancy, Marine Studies and Hospitality and Diving are also available in Villa College. Villa College also offers most number of postgraduate programmes in the country, including Masters of Arts in Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Shariah, Master of Information Technology, Masters in Research Studies and Master of Research in Public Health, Master of Science Accounting and Finance. Accordingly, Villa College has been the leader in higher education in terms of postgraduate studies.

We are also one of Maldives dual-sector colleges. This means students can easily pathway from vocational education to higher education – such as from a certificate or diploma course through to an undergraduate degree or even a postgraduate qualification by coursework or research.
Today, with its vibrant community of committed and enthusiastic staff, Villa College remains steadfast in its vision to be the leader in both teaching and learning as well as research in higher education, to reach the whole expanse of the country with opportunities for flexible higher education at an affordable price and to provide quality education recognized internatonally.