Villa College and the Maldives Stock Exchange have formalised a significant partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 18 January 2026. This collaboration establishes a framework for educational activities, professional development programmes, and initiatives designed to strengthen the connection between academic institutions and the capital market industry in the Maldives.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to enhancing student employability whilst increasing awareness of the capital market among future professionals. Under this agreement, both institutions will work together to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical industry application, ensuring that Villa College students are equipped with the competencies required to thrive in the evolving financial sector.

Villa College will coordinate the scheduling, logistics, and on-campus facilities necessary for workshops, seminars, and career events organised through this partnership. The College will actively promote these collaborative activities to its students, faculty, and alumni through appropriate communication channels, whilst also nominating qualified faculty members to participate as resource persons or moderators. Additionally, Villa College will facilitate student engagement in internship opportunities, job attachments, and project-based learning experiences offered by MSE, providing feedback to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of these programmes.

The Maldives Stock Exchange, for its part, will contribute guest speakers, industry mentors, and technical content for agreed workshops, seminars, and short courses. MSE has committed to offering a reasonable number of internship and job attachment placements for eligible Villa College students, subject to organisational capacity and selection criteria. The partnership also enables the sharing of non-confidential market data, case studies, and learning resources to support educational activities, with MSE collaborating directly with Villa College faculty to design programme content that aligns academic curricula with current capital market practices.

The key collaborative activities outlined in this agreement include co-designed workshops where Villa College faculty and MSE professionals will help students connect theoretical concepts with practical applications in areas such as trading simulations, financial analytics, and regulatory frameworks. A regular series of talks by MSE professionals will bring industry insights directly into the classroom, covering topics such as evolving trends in securities markets, job roles within the industry, and the role of technology in financial operations. Selected students will have the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals at MSE, engaging in real-time projects that enhance their practical understanding of capital markets, with these internships including performance-based incentives or stipends. Round-table discussions will encourage students to explore real-world market challenges, analyse data, develop insights, and present solutions with feedback and recognition from MSE.

The Memorandum was signed by Associate Professor Dr Ali Najeeb, Vice Rector and COO of Villa College, and Mohamed Aushan Latheef, Chief Executive Officer of the Maldives Stock Exchange. The agreement takes effect from the date of signing and may be renewed upon mutual written agreement between the parties.

This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in Villa College's ongoing mission to prepare students for professional success by connecting academic learning with industry practice. Through collaboration with the Maldives Stock Exchange, students will gain access to valuable opportunities that enhance both their knowledge and their readiness to contribute to the capital market sector.