Mianz College has launched the Maldives’ first bachelor’s degree program dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, marking a significant milestone in the country's tech education landscape. The new program aims to equip Maldivians with the skills needed to build and manage AI technologies, as the use of AI continues to expand rapidly across the globe.

The three-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) program blends core computer science fundamentals with specialized AI subjects, including a final-year capstone project. To increase accessibility, the course will be delivered through a combination of in-person and online learning, allowing students across the atolls to participate without relocating to Malé.

The launch comes amid a global surge in AI adoption. According to a 2024 McKinsey Global Survey, 78 percent of organizations reported using some form of AI, up from 65 percent earlier the same year. The technology is being increasingly integrated into key areas such as marketing, software development, service operations, and product design, transforming how industries operate worldwide.

As AI rapidly reshapes industries around the world, concerns about its impact on jobs, productivity, and economic inequality are growing. A recent analysis by the OECD estimates that around 25 percent of workers are now “exposed” to generative AI, defined as having at least 20 percent of their tasks potentially completed 50 percent faster using these tools. However, the broader employment effects remain uneven, with some sectors and regions more vulnerable to disruption than others.

While the advance of AI appears inevitable, experts agree that the transition will create new roles alongside the ones it displaces, particularly in AI development, maintenance, and oversight. Against this backdrop, developing human capital in the AI sector has become a national imperative for many countries, including the Maldives.

In response, Mianz College has introduced a 360-credit Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, the first of its kind in the Maldives. Spread across six semesters, the program offers a comprehensive curriculum beginning with programming (Python and C++), data structures, discrete mathematics, calculus, and statistics. It progresses into advanced topics such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, big data analytics, and advanced algorithms.

Students will also complete a 30-credit capstone project, along with modules on research methods and workplace readiness, to ensure they are prepared for real-world roles in the evolving digital economy. The program is delivered through a hybrid model of classroom instruction and e-learning, enabling access for students beyond the capital, Malé City.

By building a pipeline of skilled AI professionals, the program is expected to boost the Maldivian tech sector, enabling graduates to implement AI-driven solutions across various industries and reduce reliance on foreign expertise.

Speaking on the launch of the Maldives’ first Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning degree program, Vice Rector of Mianz College Dr. Shaheema emphasized the long-term vision behind the initiative.

For a small, service-oriented economy like the Maldives, the ability to train AI talent locally holds strategic value. It not only reduces dependency on overseas education but also supports responsible AI adoption across industries, aligning with global efforts to strengthen AI literacy, ethics, and governance.

As AI tools, from virtual assistants and translators to image generators and software copilots, become more embedded in everyday life, the global conversation has shifted. The pressing question now is not whether to teach AI, but how to teach it effectively, ensuring countries are equipped to shape and guide their digital futures.