Maldives at the forefront of research

In the framework of the Erasmus + project CHILDRN, supported by the European Commission,  Maldives National University organised an international research seminar in Malé. 

The objective of this three-day scientific meeting was to bring together European researchers and Maldivian experts (academics, but also civil servants and practitioners) in order to initiate joint research about the impact of climate change in the Maldives.  

Themes selected for these exchanges and the Maldivian and European researchers associated: 

• the artificial island of Hulhumale:  François Gemenne, University of Liege and Mohamed Nasheed, speaker of the  people’s Majilis (Maldivian Parliament)
• Coastal erosion : Pierre Ozer, University of Liege and Ahmed Aslam, Maldives National University
• Public health in Loss & Damage & Awareness of climate change: Anneliese Depoux, Université Paris Cité and Zeeniya Hassan Kamil, Maldives National University
• Perceptions of the government engagement-Growth over climate: last WVS evidence from Maldives: Paula Puskarova, University of Economics in Bratislava
• Biodiversity Adaptation: Mikulas Cernota, University of Economics in Bratislava & Aminath Shazly, Maldives National University

43 people participated, 14 of them from Europe, 29 from the Maldives. Among them, 3 European students who will stay 2 or 3 months on site. One of them is finishing his master in Sciences and Environment Management at the University of Liège. 

Participants appreciated the opportunity to discuss their research in small groups during 2 days. The exchanges were fruitful and will no doubt continue online in the coming months, leading to joint publications. 

Students from the University of Maldives attended two lectures, one given by Prof. Mikulas Cernota: Environmental tipping points and the other by Prof. Rainer Sauerborn, Heidelberg University: The impacts of climate change on public health in small island states. 

In September 2023, the European universities will welcome about ten students each from the Maldives for an internship. A ‘winter school’ will be organised in the Maldives in January 2024. It is intended for students from MNU¹, but also from other countries of the region and from Europe. The theme of this winter school will be the impact of climate change on the Maldives. It will combine theory and fieldwork. International researchers and Maldivian delegates to the COP will take part. An opportunity to help develop new leaders capable of facing the challenges that this small island state² will have to deal with in the not-so-distant future³.

Erasmus + project CHILDRN

The objective of the Erasmus + project CHILDRN, which will last until the beginning of 2024, is to contribute to the improvement of higher education in the Maldives and to increase the collaborations between the two universities. Two other European universities are partners: the University of Paris and the University of Bratislava.