The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage said its Signature Research Scholarship is expected to produce a new generation of heritage researchers and significantly increase academic publications on Maldivian heritage.
The Signature Research Scholarship has been launched to identify and document the distinctive characteristics of Maldivian heritage. The programme aims to advance academic research on the country's heritage while developing a pool of qualified researchers in the field.
Speaking on PSM News' "Raajje Miadhu" programme, Deputy Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Aishath Shimla, highlighted President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had also stressed in his first presidential address the importance of giving equal priority to cultural and spiritual development alongside material progress.
Shimla said that while the Maldives has a rich history and heritage that reflects the nation's unique identity, the heritage sector has not developed at the same pace as areas such as education, healthcare and tourism. She described the Signature Research Scholarship as an important step towards strengthening the field through academic research.
She noted that opportunities for higher education in heritage studies remain limited in the Maldives, and that there is a shortage of academic research on the country's history and culture. She said the scholarship programme would help train heritage specialists and lead to more scholarly research and publications on Maldivian history and culture.
"There are currently no academically rigorous books or publications supported by research. Through the 50 scholarships we have now opened, every participant who completes the programme is expected to produce either a publication or a book related to heritage. This will create a new body of academic literature for the sector," Shimla said.
Shimla also said there are currently no established benchmarks defining what makes something distinctly Maldivian. She explained that this is largely because comprehensive research and detailed documentation have not yet been carried out. Establishing clear criteria to identify the defining characteristics of Maldivian heritage is therefore essential, she added.