In 2023, Villa College conducted 21 capacity-building programs targeting policy and lawmakers, focusing on practical skills and industry-relevant knowledge. Each training session was tailored to address specific needs, fostering effective strategies in sectors like management, law, government, and public services. Below is an overview of these impactful initiatives:
Villa College hosted a validation session for industry experts on The Ethical Code of Conduct for Psychology and Counseling Professionals in the Maldives, a framework developed by Villa College’s Master of Counseling students. This session aimed to refine and strengthen ethical standards in psychology and counseling, providing an essential outreach and capacity-building platform for policy and practice. By engaging professionals in the validation process, Villa College supports the establishment of guidelines that uphold ethical practices in mental health, reinforcing the College’s role in contributing to policy development and upskilling professionals in fields that directly impact social well-being and regulatory standards in the Maldives.
Villa College conducted a Project Management Workshop for the Maldives Monetary Authority from January 21–25, 2023, focusing on strategic planning, risk management, and project implementation. This workshop enhanced participants' capacities to oversee impactful projects in the financial sector. On February 19, 2023, an Employee Wellbeing Workshop for the Judicial Services Commission aimed to strengthen mental health awareness and productivity at work, fostering a supportive judicial service environment.
A Planning & Organisational Skills workshop was conducted on March 2, 2023, for the Housing and Urban Development Corporation, equipping participants with workflow efficiency and planning techniques. A follow-up session on May 7, 2023, reinforced these skills, preparing staff to advance their organization’s project goals. Another Project Management Workshop held from June 4–8, 2023, at Maldives Islamic Bank provided banking professionals with essential skills in sector-specific project planning and execution. In August, Villa College facilitated a Conflict Management Training at Maldives Islamic Bank (August 12) and a Negotiation and Influencing Skills Workshop (August 13), enabling participants to manage workplace relations effectively.
Villa College conducted an Emotional Intelligence at Work session on August 21–22, 2023, for the Children’s Ombudsperson’s Office, focusing on managing relationships and enhancing service delivery in children’s services. In September, staff from the Housing Development Finance Corporation received Conflict Management Training (September 25–26) to boost cohesion and operational stability, while the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Social Services participated in an Emotional Intelligence workshop on September 16–17, 2023, to improve staff morale and service delivery.
A Project Management Workshop from October 24–30, 2023 conducted for Bank of Maldives, focusing on project execution skills, and two Business Writing Skills sessions (November 4–25, 2023), which improved participants' communication skills. For the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, Villa College provided a Research Methods workshop starting November 19, supporting evidence-based work in human rights advocacy. Additionally, from November 18–25, 2023, the Dhivehi Language Programme supported Bank of Maldives staff in enhancing native-language customer service skills, with a Supervisory Skills Program conducted throughout 2023 to build strong leadership within the organization.
Villa College also delivered several language and technical skills workshops: a Dhivehi Office Language Program from December 11–14, 2023, for the Labour Relations Authority; an AutoCAD for Beginners training from January 26–February 4, 2023, for the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Community Empowerment; and an Advanced Excel Workshop from February 7–14, 2023, for the Prosecutor General’s Office, focusing on data management. Additionally, public speaking skills were developed for Labour Relations Authority staff in a session from May 21–24, 2023, to enhance presentation skills. Lastly, Villa College offered an English Language Program at pre-intermediary level from January 11–February 14, and from October 19–November 30, 2023, for Maldives Transport and Contracting Company Plc, supporting communication in internationalized work settings.
These initiatives reflect Villa College’s dedication to empowering policymakers and government staff, creating informed, efficient leaders across sectors.