Event Highlights: KIX Maldives National Uptake Forum
The KIX EMAP Hub held the first KIX National Uptake Forum in the Maldives, in partnership with the Republic of Maldives Ministry of Education and the KIX research grantee Villa College, on 29 May 2024. The uptake forum was attended by more than 100 in-person and online attendees.
The KIX Maldives National Uptake Forum aimed to share policy-oriented findings and recommendations from KIX’s work with key stakeholders, strengthen relationships between educational institutions, and further the connection between the GPE KIX programme and the Maldives Ministry of Education.
Welcome Session
The uptake forum started with a welcome speech from His Excellency Ismail Shafeeu, the Minister of Education, followed by speeches from Javier Luque (Country Team Lead, Global Partnership for Education), Sangay Jamtsho (Senior Program Officer, International Development Research Centre) and José Luís Canêlhas (Director, KIX EMAP Hub).
Keynote Speeches
The welcome session was followed by keynote speeches on “Uptake of research in policy and practice – challenges and experiences” given by His Excellency, Ahmed Shafeeu (Minister of State for Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development), and Rasha Sharaf (KIX EMAP Knowledge Lead, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa).
After the keynotes, the forum continued with two thematic panel sessions on (i) Data Systems and Data Use and (ii) Teaching and Learning.
Thematic Panel Session: Data Systems and Data Use
The thematic panel was chaired by Ibrahim Latheef (Villa College) and His Excellency Ahmed Mohamed (Minister of State for Education) served as the discussant. The panel featured four presentations:
- KIX EMAP case study: Equitable Access to Education using Geospatial Data by Ibrahim Asif Rasheed (DG, Policy Planning and Research Division, Ministry of Education).
- KIX EMAP case study: Education for students with complex learning profile: Policy options for Maldives by Hawwa Neena Ali (Maldives National University).
- Data-related components in multiplier grant by Harsha Aturupane (World Bank).
- Connecting KIX with the education transformation agenda in the Maldives by Mazeena Jameel (UNICEF Maldives).
Thematic Panel Session: Teaching and Learning
The second panel session was chaired by Shuhuda Rizwan (National Institute of Education) and Fathimath Nisha (National Institute of Education) served as the discussant. This session featured three presentations:
- KIX research project: A multi-modal approach to teacher professional development in low-resource settings by Fathimath Saeed (Villa College).
- Case studies of Fahi Ashi 4Ts, KIX EMAP case study on Scaling teacher professional development in the Maldives by Aminath Shafiya Adam (Maldives National University).
- KIX EMAP case study on Integration of 21st-century skills into the Maldives curriculum and Curriculum reform: from learning cycle to rapid customised country support by Gulfishan Shafeeu and Ashraf Abdul Raheem (National Institute of Education).
New KIX Research Project in the Maldives
Following the thematic sessions, Project Lead Visal Moosa (Maldives National Coordinator) introduced the upcoming KIX research project in the Maldives “Scaling Impact of a Play-Based Child-to-Child Approach to Make Pre-School to Primary School Transition Fun and Inclusive.”
Key Takeaways, Next Steps and Closing Words
In the forum closing session, Visal Moosa and Aishath Hassan (Chair, KIX Maldives National Steering Committee) summarised the forum key takeaways and listed next steps from the open discussion moments.
José Luís Canêlhas and Rasha Sharaf closed the event by expressing the Hub’s gratitude for the support that the Ministry of Education, Villa College and all members of the KIX national team gave to the concretisation of this event.
The KIX EMAP Hub will publish a forum synthesis report with all key takeaways and resources for institutions and partners in the Maldives. Visit the Maldives country page for updates on in-country work.
KIX Maldives National Uptake Forum 2024 featured in the news:
- Maldives Ministry of Education: Facebook post
- Maldives Ministry of Education: X (Twitter) post
- Public Service Media News: news article
- MV+: news article
- Adhadhu: news article
