Institute for Research and Innovation, Villa College

Institute for Research and Innovation is pleased to announce that the submission deadline for the VC Research Grant (VCRG) 2026 has been extended.

We invite our academic and professional staff to submit innovative, policy-relevant, and socially impactful research proposals aligned with the key research tracks and national development priorities.

New submission deadline: 15 June 2026
Project duration: Up to 12 months

Full-time VC academic and professional staff are eligible to apply as Principal Investigators. Applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with industry partners, external researchers, and international collaborators to enhance the relevance, quality, and impact of proposed projects.

All details on eligibility, funding, research tracks, and submission guidelines are available at the link below:
https://bit.ly/VCRG26infoandapplication

Please refer to the poster for a full overview.
For more information, contact: [email protected]

The Pensieve Session 3: SPSS Workshop: Mediation & Moderation Analysis
On 5th May 2026, the Institute for Research and Innovation (IRI) conducted the third session of the Pensieve Workshop Series 2026 titled “SPSS Workshop: Mediation & Moderation Analysis.” The session was held face-to-face in the Computer Lab and was facilitated by Dr. Ibrahim Afzal.
The session focused on equipping participants with practical skills in conducting mediation and moderation analysis using SPSS. Participants were introduced to key concepts, including direct, indirect, and interaction effects, with an emphasis on simplifying complex analytical techniques for applied research.
Dr. Ibrahim Afzal guided participants through hands-on training using SPSS and the PROCESS Macro, enabling them to perform statistical analyses and interpret outputs effectively. The session also covered bootstrapping techniques and confidence intervals, supporting participants in making accurate inferences from their data.
In addition, participants explored methods for visualizing interaction effects and slopes, as well as an introduction to advanced conditional models. Practical tips for reporting results clearly and effectively in academic writing were also shared.
This session aimed to strengthen participants’ analytical capabilities and enhance their confidence in applying advanced statistical methods, supporting Villa College's commitment to advancing research quality and capacity.

Institute for Research and Innovation is pleased to announce the opening of the VC Research Grant 2026.

We invite our academic and professional staff to submit innovative, policy-relevant, and socially impactful research proposals aligned with the key research tracks and national development priorities.

Deadline for submission: 25 May 2026
Project duration: Up to 12 months

Full-time VC academic and professional staff are eligible to apply as Principal Investigators. Applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with industry partners, external researchers, and international collaborators to enhance the relevance, quality, and impact of proposed projects.

All details on eligibility, funding, research tracks, and submission guidelines are available at the link below:
https://bit.ly/VCRG26infoandapplication

Please refer to the poster for a full overview.

For more information, contact: [email protected]

Villa College has extended the abstract submission deadline for the International Conference on Social Research and Innovation 2026. Researchers, academics, and practitioners now have until 10 May 2026 to contribute their work to this year's theme, Tides of Transformation: Shaping Sustainable Futures.

Convened by the Institute for Research and Innovation, ICSRI 2026 invites original scholarship across eight tracks spanning digital ethics, legal reform, equitable education, public health, climate action, inclusive economies, and community mobility.

We invite scholars at every stage of their career to make the most of this additional window. The conference convenes on 8 and 9 August 2026, offering a platform to examine the forces reshaping our region and chart pathways towards resilient, sustainable futures.

Submit via https://icsri.villacollege.edu.mv/

Registration is now open for a 15-hour Corporate Training programme in Microsoft Excel: Intermediate to Advanced. Strengthen your spreadsheet skills from intermediate to advanced level.

Dates: 2nd to 6th May 2026
Time: 2nd May (4:00 pm to 7:00 pm), 3rd to 6th May (8:00 pm onwards)
Mode: Face-to-face
Venue: Villa College, QI Campus
Trainer: Ali Asif
Fee: MVR 2,400
Registration closes on 27th April 2026.

Reserve your place at villacollege.edu.mv/corporate-training

Villa College Complete this 3-day TOT programme to become a more effective trainer by gaining an in-depth experience in all aspects of training

Registration is now open for a 12-hour Corporate Training programme in Project Management. Build the skills to plan, coordinate, and deliver projects with confidence.

Dates: 2nd to 6th May 2026
Time: 8:00 pm onwards
Mode: Face-to-face
Venue: Villa College, QI Campus
Trainer: Adam Muiz
Fee: MVR 2,000

Registration closes on 27th April 2026. Reserve your place at villacollege.edu.mv/corporate-training

Villa College Complete this 3-day TOT programme to become a more effective trainer by gaining an in-depth experience in all aspects of training

The Institute for Research and Innovation of Villa College is recruiting enumerators for a nationwide survey.

Please note:
• Fieldwork will be conducted in May 2026
• A training session for all enumerators will be held in April 2026
• Guidance will be provided by research experts
• Enumerators will be paid MVR 100 per successfully completed survey
• Applicants must be 18 years and above

If you are based in the listed islands and interested in this opportunity, please register using the link or QR code provided in the poster.

For more information, contact:
3303371 / 3303343
[email protected]

The Pensieve Session 2: Advancing Faculty Development through Research Integrity and Ethical Scholarly Publishing

On 3rd March 2026, the Institute for Research and Innovation (IRI) conducted the second session of the Pensieve Workshop Series 2026 titled “Advancing Faculty Development through Research Integrity and Ethical Scholarly Publishing.” The session was held online and was attended by 28 participants. It was facilitated by Dr. Ihtisham Ullah, Lecturer at Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU), Malaysia.

The session focused on strengthening faculty understanding of research integrity and ethical publishing practices. Participants were guided through key principles of responsible authorship, plagiarism prevention, and effective data stewardship, with emphasis on maintaining transparency and accountability throughout the research and publication process.

Dr. Ihtisham also addressed ethical peer review practices and appropriate responses to research misconduct, providing practical insights into common challenges faced by researchers. The session further explored how to plan a sustainable and ethical publishing pathway, including selecting suitable journals, using research metrics responsibly, and aligning scholarly work with COPE, ICMJE, and institutional publishing policies.

The engagement between Villa College and Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation - APU reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to advancing research integrity, strengthening academic collaboration, and supporting the professional development of researchers.

This session aimed to enhance faculty capacity in maintaining high ethical standards in research and publication, supporting Villa College’s commitment to academic excellence and responsible scholarly contributions.

The Pensieve Session 1: From Idea to Fundable Proposal: Drafting Competitive Applications for National Research Funding

On 4th February 2026, the Institute for Research and Innovation (IRI) conducted the first session of the Pensieve Series 2026 titled “From Ideas to Funding Proposal: Drafting Competitive Applications for National Research Funding.” The session was held face-to-face and was attended by 33 participants.

The session focused on guiding participants through the process of translating research ideas into funder-aligned proposal concepts aligned with national priority areas. Participants were introduced to the core components of a strong research proposal, including problem statements, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.

The IRI team facilitated discussions to align research objectives, methods, and budgets, demonstrating feasibility and value for money. The session also highlighted common evaluation criteria used by national research funding bodies and provided practical insights on how to strengthen proposal quality and competitiveness.

This session aimed to enhance researchers’ capacity to develop well-structured, high-quality funding proposals and supported Villa College ongoing efforts to strengthen research output and success in national research funding opportunities.
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