Maldives seeks Indian help to set up Islamic varsity

The Maldives has sought academic tie-ups with the Jamia Millia Islamia, one of India's oldest universities, and help in establishing an Islamic university in the island nation, a visiting Maldivian minister said here.

A delegation led by Maldivian Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed visited the university Wednesday evening to explore possibilities of academic collaborations and partnerships. It sought Jamia's assistance in developing a culture of academic publications in the Maldives.

Highlighting the Maldives' successful assimilation of Western education into Islam, the visiting minister underscored the need to promote Islam, which was liberal, tolerant and integrated varied influences.

He observed that the Maldives - the Indian Ocean

island of just about 340,000 people who were predominantly Muslim - was immensely successful in making women equal stakeholders in the country's affairs as was evident from the assumption of high offices by them in different walks of life.

Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor S.M. Sajid recounted the historical ties between India and the Maldives. He assured the visiting delegation of all possible assistance from Jamia to facilitate academic collaborations in different sectors of education.