Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef has said that the Maldives is working to strengthen its education system by embedding Islamic knowledge and values, while also ensuring it remains globally competitive. 

He made the remarks at the opening of the Seminar on Islamic Leadership and Integration of Knowledge, held at the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) on 11 October 2025.

The three-day seminar, organised by IUM in collaboration with the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), aims to explore ways to integrate Islamic principles into education, leadership, and human resource development. Addressing participants, the Vice President stressed that one of the country’s top priorities was building human capacity rooted in Islamic learning to prepare for the challenges of a changing world.

Speakers at the event included Rector Emeritus of IIUM, Prof. Dato’ Dr Uthman bin Bakr, who underlined the importance of leaders being grounded in knowledge, and IIIT Secretary-General Prof. Dr Omar Hassan Kasule, who highlighted that true progress depends not only on acquiring knowledge but applying it effectively. He noted that Europe’s development drew from Islamic traditions in science and learning, urging the Muslim world to harness its heritage for future growth.

Over the course of the seminar, workshops will be held on economic development, trade, and human resource advancement, with IUM stating that the initiative is designed to train participants capable of contributing to positive change in Maldivian society.