American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) welcomed a delegation from Villa College, Maldives, to its campus on August 16, 2026, for an exploratory meeting aimed at discussing potential areas of academic collaboration between the two institutions.

The delegation from Villa College was led by Dr. Ali Najeeb, Vice Rector, and Mr. Abdul Munnim Mohamed Manik, Deputy Vice Rector (Administration & Finance). They met with Prof. Dr. Carmen Z. Lamagna, Member of the Board of Trustees, AIUB.

From AIUB, the meeting was also attended by Dr. Farheen Hassan, SFHEA, Director, Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC); Dr. Dip Nandi, Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology; Abu Mia Akanda Tuhin, Head of Public Relations; Ms. Nazia Farhana, Additional Director, IQAC; and Ms. Susmita Ghosh, Additional Director, IQAC.

During the meeting, the representatives of both institutions exchanged views on possible avenues for future collaboration. Initial discussions focused on creating internship opportunities for students, along with exploring several other areas of mutual academic and institutional cooperation. The meeting provided an opportunity to identify common interests and initiate dialogue on developing meaningful partnerships that could benefit students, faculty members, and both institutions.

Villa College is a leading private higher education institution in the Maldives, offering internationally recognized undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, diplomas, and foundation programs. The institution is in Malé and has learning centers across the country. It has also developed collaborations with international institutions in areas including Business, Information Technology, Nursing, Law, and Education. Villa College has received notable international recognition, including a QS 5-Star rating and strong performance in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, where it has been recognized as the highest-ranked higher education institution in the Maldives for sustainable impact.

Following their visit to AIUB, the Villa College delegates also participated in the QS Bangladesh Forum 2026, held on August 17, 2026.

The visit marked a positive beginning towards building a potential partnership between AIUB and Villa College and reflected both institutions' interest in strengthening international engagement and exploring opportunities for future collaboration.