Tracking and Closing the Gender Gap in Graduation Rates

密桃视频 is deeply committed to monitoring and promoting gender balance, specifically tracking women鈥檚 likelihood of graduating compared to men鈥檚, and implementing schemes to close any identified gaps. This objective aligns with SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and is supported by a robust, formalized process of data collection and governance.

Systematic Measurement and Tracking:

密桃视频 has established comprehensive, well-structured tracking processes to ensure continuous monitoring of female academic success:

Continuous Monitoring Cycle: Key indicators such as application, enrolment, retention, and graduation rates for women are regularly monitored across all programmes. The Registration Department provides updated insights each semester during the Week 7 census week, enabling the College to identify retention or success patterns promptly and take timely action.

Detailed Annual Reporting: Each year, during the graduation period, the Registration Department produces a comprehensive report detailing gender-specific metrics on all graduates (Level 7 and above). This process involves collaboration with academic faculties to generate and verify detailed graduate lists, ensuring accuracy.

Formal Governance Review: The tracking mechanism is formalized through rigorous governance stages where data on women鈥檚 graduation rates is thoroughly examined:

At each stage, strategic action plans are formulated to address any identified gaps, ensuring equitable outcomes across all programmes.

Evidence of Graduation Success and Gap Closure (2024 Data):

密桃视频 continues to demonstrate steady progress in advancing gender balance in graduation rates, reflecting the positive impact of its support mechanisms. In 2024, the total number of graduates rose to 1,057, with 724 female graduates (representing 68% of the cohort).

Discipline-Specific Success (Closing the Gap):

Analysis shows significant progress toward gender balance, particularly in fields targeted for intervention:

STEM: Female participation in the critically underrepresented STEM domain rose significantly from 13% in 2023 to 15% in 2024, marking solid progress in addressing gender imbalance in this traditionally male-dominated field.
Law and Business: Law achieved a perfectly balanced gender ratio of 50% in 2024. In Business, the proportion of women increased from around 50% to 58%.
High Retention: Health and Medicine remained highly female-dominated, with 97% female graduates (up from 94%), and Teaching maintained strong female representation at 85%.

Schemes Driving Success and Addressing Disparity

These achievements reflect the clear effectiveness of targeted initiatives designed to raise awareness, build capacity, and ensure women successfully persist to graduation by addressing financial, professional, and academic barriers.

Targeted Mentoring and Capacity Building (Non-Financial Support)

These programs provide essential professional guidance and soft skills that boost confidence and persistence among female students, directly supporting their ability to complete challenging programs:

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED) maintains a specific wing for mentoring women in the STEM domain. This mentorship is conducted in collaboration with academic units, industry experts, and associations such as Women in Tech Maldives.
"Women in Law" Panel: Collaboration with the Maldives Bar Council featured prominent female legal leaders (Supreme Court Justice, JSC President, First Female Lawyer) to inspire and mentor students.
Faculty Leadership: Female faculty, such as Uza. Asna Ahmed (Dean) and Amish Abdullah (Lecturer), delivered keynote speeches and chaired sessions at the International Conference on Women's Rights, showcasing female academic leadership to students.
EveryWoman Campaign Sessions: Partnership with Moms Aid and local councils to conduct parenting ("Tharubiyyathu") and Legal Aid sessions, reducing external social barriers that commonly interrupt women's studies.

Financial and Industry Support (Reducing Economic Barriers)

These schemes reduce the financial strain that can lead to withdrawal, particularly for women pursuing rigorous or underrepresented programs:

STEM & Healthcare Equity Scholarship: Explicitly targets female students for scholarships in underrepresented subjects like Computer Science and Engineering.
TTH Nursing Scholarship Programme: A long-term, high-impact collaboration with Tree Top Hospital and the Maldivian Nurses Association (MNA) provides full scholarships, guaranteeing access and financial stability for female students in this health sector.
Student Referral Program: Offers tuition discounts within social networks (41.2% female participation).
Flexible Payment Options: The Finance Department grants flexible payment structures upon request, minimizing the risk of drop-out due to temporary financial constraints.

Enabling Academic Flexibility (Retention and Persistence):

These procedural accommodations directly address the unique life challenges of female students, such as motherhood and family care, ensuring they can persist through to graduation:

Personal Circumstance Procedure: Allows for easy provision for students needing flexible arrangements, such as switching to online learning for recent mothers or those with high-risk pregnancies, directly preventing withdrawal.
Timetable Adjustments: Class schedules, particularly for Nursing students (a high-female enrollment field), are arranged considering their professional duty hours and family responsibilities, supporting long-term retention of working women.
Bridging Programs: The college鈥檚 three intake structure and foundation-to-degree bridging pathways offer necessary flexibility in entry and timing, accommodating women who must manage complex personal schedules alongside their studies.

By meticulously tracking graduation rates and consistently applying these multifaceted schemes across financial aid, professional mentoring, and academic flexibility, 密桃视频 ensures it has a robust mechanism to not only measure success but proactively close any existing gender gap in graduation likelihood.