ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ's strategic commitment to building sustainability literacy is explicitly demonstrated through the development of dedicated academic courses that go beyond general curricular integration.
ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ's strategic commitment to building sustainability literacy is explicitly demonstrated through the development of dedicated academic courses that go beyond general curricular integration. These courses, delivered in 2024, ensure that students and the public receive specialized, in-depth education on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) tailored to the context of the Maldives.
ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ advanced its sustainability and SDG goals by launching two dedicated academic offerings: one compulsory module for enrolled students and one free public module for wider community outreach.
A. Sustainability: Theory, Practice and Impact (Full-Credit Dedicated Module): This is a full-credit, dedicated course embedded within the College's academic curricula. It provides a comprehensive exploration of sustainability, with a particular emphasis on the unique challenges and opportunities for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like the Maldives. The course covers 10 key thematic areas, including Climate Change Adaptation, the Blue Economy, Sustainability Governance, and Environmental Resilience.
B. Introduction to Sustainability (Free Public Dedicated Module): This short course is offered as a free, fully online, self-paced public module, open to learners of all backgrounds. It is a vital component of the College's public outreach strategy, specifically designed to introduce foundational sustainability principles to a broader audience. This module functions as a public resource intended to raise national awareness and understanding of fundamental sustainability challenges and concepts.
Public Participation: The public module launched with open registration and aims to reach at least 200 learners over the next academic cycle as part of ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ’s extensive outreach for public sustainability education.
The content of these dedicated modules is specifically structured to provide practical, policy-relevant insights and problem-solving skills aligned with national development priorities and the global SDG goals.
Key Content Areas: The curricula cover a diverse range of critical topics:
Environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability.
Scientific understanding of climate change and island vulnerability.
Renewable energy and energy security in SIDS.
Governance, sustainability reporting, and public participation.
Sustainable tourism and the blue economy.
Social equity, urban resilience, and sustainable infrastructure.
Selected Learning Outcomes: Students completing these modules are expected to achieve advanced skills, enabling them to:
Define and apply sustainability principles to real-world SIDS contexts.
Analyze climate change impacts and formulate local adaptation strategies.
Investigate renewable energy technologies and assess their viability for the Maldives.
Evaluate governance frameworks and SDG-aligned policies.
Engage critically with sustainability reporting and accountability measures.
The relevance and excellence of these dedicated courses are underpinned by the academic and practical expertise of the module leader, Dr. Sulthan Khalifa Haroon Al Rashid. Dr. Al Rashid, who holds a PhD in Public Policy and Sustainable Development, possesses extensive experience in teaching, publication, and policy development. Furthermore, the high impact of his research, which is published in Q1 international journals, demonstrates a proven ability to connect academic frameworks with real-world policy interventions, particularly in the context of SIDS like the Maldives.
Assessment on Sustainability Literacy:
ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ evaluates the attainment of Sustainability Literacy through the rigorous assessment of its dedicated modules, particularly the full-credit Sustainability: Theory, Practice and Impact. Evaluation methods are directly mapped to the selected learning outcomes, moving beyond simple knowledge recall to measure practical application and critical engagement. Students are required to demonstrate their ability to analyze climate change impacts, formulate local adaptation strategies, and critically evaluate SDG-aligned policies and sustainability reporting through applied assignments, case studies focused on the SIDS context, and policy brief writing. This ensures that the assessment captures both the theoretical understanding and the practical, policy-relevant problem-solving skills necessary for real-world contributions to the SDGs.
Both the credit-bearing and public modules explicitly support ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ’s dedicated engagement with several critical SDG Goals, providing targeted education in areas vital for the Maldives’ future. The course content is intentionally designed to align with seven key goals. It begins with SDG 4 (Quality Education) by delivering sustainability education to both public and enrolled students. The modules then dive deeply into the environmental goals critical for an island nation: SDG 13 (Climate Action), covering climate science and adaptation strategies; SDG 14 (Life Below Water), focusing on marine sustainability and the blue economy; and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), concentrating on renewable energy and local energy transitions. Furthermore, the curriculum addresses socio-economic resilience through SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities & Communities), which includes urban resilience and smart infrastructure, and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), covering waste and resource management. Finally, the modules ensure students understand the broader context by integrating global frameworks and local policy alignment, directly supporting SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
ÃÜÌÒÊÓƵ stands at the forefront of transformative sustainability education in the Maldives. Through well-designed, dedicated, and expertly delivered courses, we are not only building the capacity of future professionals and community leaders but also contributing actively to the global SDG movement. These efforts reflect the institution’s strategic focus on quality education, climate resilience, and inclusive development - ensuring that learners are not only informed but empowered to shape a sustainable future for all.