Avid College Repeatedly Advised Over Illegal Programs in Sri Lanka

The Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) has been advising Avid College for more than a year due to its alleged operation of academic programs in Sri Lanka without proper accreditation. The MQA's public announcement revealed that Avid College conducted programs at Amazon College and Alzette University in Sri Lanka, violating regulations governing the delivery of accredited Maldivian programs abroad. The issue surfaced after graduates completed Avid-approved programs at these institutions, prompting students and foreign qualification agencies to request certificate verification. According to the MQA, Avid College also advertised its programs through several other institutions, including Chester College of Higher Education and Imperial Wisdom Graduate Campus, among others. The authority has repeatedly instructed Avid College since August 2024 not to conduct accredited programs abroad without formal approval. Despite this, evidence shows that the programs continued without the required permission. The MQA warned that such actions could cause 'irreparable damage' to the international trust placed in Maldivian higher education institutions and strain relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka. If non-compliance continues, fines of MVR 8,000 and subsequently MVR 10,000 will be imposed under the Maldives Qualifications Authority Accreditation Programs Abroad Regulations.