IUM Launches First Permanent Atoll Campus and Student Housing in Manadhoo

Construction has officially begun on the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) campus and student housing in Manadhoo, Noonu Atoll, marking a significant shift in the accessibility of higher education across the archipelago. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ali Zahir launched the practical construction work during a ceremony attended by senior university officials and members of the Manadhoo Council. The project, awarded to Trusteng Company, represents the first permanent IUM campus to be established outside the Greater Malé area. The new facility is designed to be a comprehensive academic hub, featuring modern classrooms, a library, administrative offices, and seminar facilities. To ensure a sustainable living environment for the academic community, the project includes both student and staff accommodation blocks. IUM expects all construction to be completed within the next two years, allowing the university to begin operations shortly thereafter. This development is part of a broader national strategy to decentralize higher education and reduce the dependency of students on the capital for university degrees. While this is the first permanent campus in the outer atolls, IUM has revealed plans to develop campuses on 11 different islands, with projects currently in various stages of progress. The initiative aligns with recent government efforts to expand educational infrastructure. During previous presidential visits to the atolls, foundation stones were laid for both the Maldives National University (MNU) and IUM on multiple islands. The government maintains that these nationwide projects will be completed within the next two years, fundamentally expanding the reach of higher education and creating more opportunities for students residing in the atolls.