Â鶹ÊÓƵ is committed to empowering female students, ensuring equitable access, and fostering success in higher education through tracking, support schemes, and mentorship programs. To address women’s enrollment and graduation disparities, Â鶹ÊÓƵ regularly monitors key indicators—including application, enrollment, retention, and graduation rates—for women in all programs. Each semester, the college's census week in Week 7 provides updated insights from the Registration Department, allowing Â鶹ÊÓƵ to identify and respond to trends. In 2023, data showed lower female enrollment in programs such as Engineering, Computer Science, and Tourism, with a female graduation rate in STEM at 13%, compared to 94% in Health Sciences. This data-driven approach highlights areas for targeted outreach and mentoring.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ has implemented several impactful strategies to address these disparities:
Workshops and Mentorship Programs: To increase female participation in underrepresented fields, Â鶹ÊÓƵ conducts workshops that raise awareness about the opportunities in STEM, Tourism, and other programs. Through these sessions, female students can connect with mentors, explore career paths, and build confidence in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ awarded four full scholarships in 2023, with three of them granted to female students. Â鶹ÊÓƵ also offers a collaborative scholarship with Taylor’s University, providing students with internationally recognized qualifications and broader career opportunities. In 2023, 12 female students received joint scholarships to start their programs in 2024.
: Recognizing the need for balanced gender representation in key fields, the STEM and Healthcare Equity Scholarship supports female students who show a commitment to breaking gender barriers in traditionally male-dominated areas. Recipients are selected based on merit and undergo an interview process that assesses their commitment to their chosen fields and potential as role models.
: To further enhance accessibility, Â鶹ÊÓƵ also offers scholarships aimed at students from low-income backgrounds. This financial support provides promising female students with access to quality education, breaking down economic barriers and helping them achieve their educational and professional goals.
These initiatives, aimed at increasing female representation in higher education and ensuring equal opportunities for academic and career success, reinforce Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s dedication to gender equity and inclusivity.
Discover Hospitality Project:
The Discover Hospitality project, a collaboration between Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the Universal Foundation, is a flagship initiative to build a skilled workforce in the Maldives tourism sector, which has long relied on expatriate labor. This project directly addresses critical skill gaps while focusing on inclusivity, particularly for women, youth, and marginalized groups like school dropouts and O-Level graduates. In alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 5, the project empowers underrepresented groups by offering an industry-oriented curriculum combining real-world experience with theoretical learning. Participants receive in-depth training in the luxury resort industry through direct mentoring by seasoned professionals, particularly targeting local youth and women to promote gender balance in the hospitality field.
Addressing Gender Imbalance in the Maldivian Hospitality Sector
A unique aspect of Discover Hospitality is its strong commitment to increasing female participation in the tourism sector, a pledge that aligns with SDG 5. The project has made substantial efforts to attract more female students, thereby addressing the gender imbalance in the industry. Our enrolment data highlights this success, with female participation rising from just 12% in 2017 to an impressive 45.5% in 2024. This significant growth, illustrated by our enrollment trends, reflects the project's impact on shifting perceptions and empowering women in a field traditionally dominated by men.
Mentoring and Financial Support for Participants
As a core part of Discover Hospitality, students receive mentoring from experienced hospitality professionals. This mentorship provides guidance on career pathways, essential industry skills, and the development of professional confidence. Additionally, each participant receives a monthly stipend of MVR 3,000, significantly lowering the financial burden of education. This support allows students especially women, often balancing familial and economic responsibilities, to fully engage in the program without financial strain.
Empowering Women for Career Growth and Leadership
Through the Discover Hospitality project, female graduates not only secure employment in the tourism sector but are also advancing into senior roles, breaking down traditional gender biases. With over 85% of project graduates employed and many progressing in their careers, Discover Hospitality demonstrates the effectiveness of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's commitment to women’s mentorship, development, and equal opportunity in an industry that has historically been male-dominated.
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