Wednesday
19th Aug 2026
Dhivehi Edition
Photo: PSM
The Maldives National University (MNU) has officially opened the ninth edition of its annual Theveli International Conference, with a record 330 research papers submitted from the Maldives and 25 other countries.
The conference was inaugurated by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed at a special ceremony held at the auditorium of MNU’s administrative building.
Theveli, which MNU has organised annually since 2017, is being held this year under the theme, “Transformative Innovation in the 21st Century: Science, Technology, and Society.” The conference is scheduled to run from August 17 to 19, with an Undergraduate Student Research Symposium held on the opening day and post-conference workshops planned for August 20. The conference dates, theme and programme have been confirmed by MNU.
According to the information provided, the 330 submissions represent the highest number of research papers received for an academic conference of this kind held in the Maldives to date. The submissions include research from 25 countries outside the Maldives.
The conference covers a wide range of areas, including environmental and climate issues, innovation and technology, science and health, global affairs and peace, education, gender equality, economics and markets, and artificial intelligence. MNU’s official conference programme similarly identifies nine interdisciplinary areas spanning climate action, technology, health, governance, education, gender and social transformation, economies, interdisciplinary research, and AI.
Research findings from prominent professors at overseas universities, as well as studies conducted by companies and at the national level, are also scheduled to be presented during the conference.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, MNU Vice Chancellor Dr. Aishath Shehenaz Adam said the Theveli Conference provides an important opportunity for students to advance knowledge, research and innovation.
“Although the Maldives is a small island nation, the impact of the knowledge, research and innovations we create here can reach far beyond our shores and benefit many people in many ways,” she said.
The main objective of the conference is to facilitate evidence-based policymaking and contribute towards building a higher education system in the Maldives founded on research and scholarly evidence.
As part of the conference programme, a special Undergraduate Student Research Symposium for bachelor's degree students was held on August 17. Post-conference workshops are also scheduled for August 20.