The Maldives Qualification Authority (MQA) has revised its Guidelines for Programme Accreditation to enhance the credibility of higher education qualifications.

A key amendment mandates that students must achieve at least 50 per cent in controlled, supervised assessments to pass their courses. This change aims to address issues of academic dishonesty, such as outsourcing assignments, and ensures that qualifications reflect genuine student performance.

The updated guidelines specify that all modules for programmes ranging from Level 1 to Level 9 (excluding Master’s by research) must include at least 50 per cent of their assessments under supervised, time-bound, and controlled conditions.

Students must also pass these controlled assessments independently, without external aid, for them to count towards their overall grades. Acceptable assessment methods include unseen written exams, open-book tests, in-class quizzes, oral presentations, lab work, and more. Open-book exams must also adhere to reasonable time limits.

Additionally, every module must outline clear assessment criteria and include at least one individual task demonstrating a student’s unaided capabilities.

To reduce the risk of third-party involvement, no module should rely entirely on take-home assignments.

The new rules reflect a broader effort by the MQA to combat fraudulent practices and ensure that higher education institutions deliver assessments aligned with integrity and fairness.

The Higher Education Act 2021 supports these reforms by imposing fines of MVR 5,000 on students who outsource assessments and MVR 10,000 on those offering such services.