Qualifications Authority Introduces Dhivehi Referencing Style — A First for the Maldives

The Maldives Qualifications Authority has introduced the country’s first Dhivehi Referencing Style, a system designed to support higher‑education students, researchers and academic writers working in the Dhivehi language.

The authority described the new style as a significant step forward for Dhivehi‑language scholarship, offering a standardised method for citing sources in academic and scientific work. The system draws on the methodologies of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Sociological Association (ASA), adapted for Dhivehi academic use. The project was overseen by Ms Fizana Rasheed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Maldives Qualifications Authority.

Authors of the Referencing Guide

• Dr Aminath Riyaaz, Maldives National University
• Dr Ahmed Ali Didi, Villa College
• Mr Muthau Shaheem, Mianz College
• Dr Aminath Shafiya Adam, Islamic University of Maldives
• Ms Aishath Shimla, Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage

One of the central aims of the Dhivehi Referencing Style, MQA said, is to ensure that institutions, disciplines and publications across the country follow a unified format. Such consistency will make it easier for students and readers to locate and verify sources across different fields of study.

The guidelines also stress the importance of distinguishing a researcher’s original ideas from the work of others — a safeguard intended to help writers avoid plagiarism.