Mail-order degrees: the Maldives fake PhD scandal

But the graduation ceremony did not take place at the Paris campus of the European International University. The location was a luxury resort in the Maldives. 

These celebratory images became central to a social media scandal that exposed high-profile Maldivians – including Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Iruthisham Adam – claiming to hold PhD or equivalent academic qualifications. 

The local graduates of the European International University trumpeted the prestigious title of Doctor of Philosophy, but the “professional doctoral certificate” awarded by the EIU does not actually confer this privilege. Unlike PhDs, which require years of original research and a peer-reviewed dissertation, professional doctoral certificates merely evaluate existing work experience through a portfolio submission.

The problem with such “fake degrees” is that they provide an unfair advantage to people who are willing to pay, said a former senior official at the Maldives Qualifications Authority, which accredits universities, programmes and certificates, referring to the use of dubious credentials as well as allegations that EIU certificates could be bought.  

“For example, I don’t think every institution or organisation that hires employees always checks whether certificates are accredited locally. So you can get one of these degrees and land a job for which you are unqualified or get extra allowances based on educational merit,” he told the Maldives Independent.

The EIU claims to have their only campus in Paris, France. A cursory look through Google’s street view imagery revealed a small office space in a predominantly residential area of the French capital. According to the EIU website, their operations office is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

EIU has awarded professional doctoral certificates to a high number of Maldivians. 

A leading career professional described to the Maldives Independent an email sent from the EIU, offering the professional doctorate programme for a fee of € 10,000.

“I got the email several years ago. I think around the same time they had the graduation ceremony in Maldives. Their top officials were in the Maldives then. To me it did not sound right, so I did some research and decided to reject this,” he said.

In one case, a professional doctoral certificate in global leadership and management was awarded on the same day he was accepted into the programme, a businessman acknowledged on social media. But Rafeeudin Naseem said this did not show a “lack of diligence.”

“The institution reviewed my work, background, and contributions before bestowing this honorary recognition,” he insisted. Naseem also shared university communications and photos of the certificate he was awarded during a ceremony in a Singapore hotel.

Following his resort graduation ceremony, Home Minister Ihusan used his new Dr title, which appeared in several news stories. In one post on X, responding to a question about military and academic titles, Ihusan advised that he should be referred to as “Captain (retired) Dr.”

But he stopped using the title after the social media uproar. Profiles on the President’s Office and home ministry website no longer include the honorific.

High Commissioner Iruthisham, on the other hand, continues to use the title in her official capacity. The foreign ministry page on Maldivian ambassadors refers to her Dr Iruthisham even though the President’s Office page does not.

According to the EIU’s website, the professional doctorate certificate requires completion of a process called "Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience," a French term for recognising prior learning and experience. 

A portfolio of evidence to support a candidate's work experience, skills, and competencies is evaluated by a committee. Successful candidates are awarded a diploma or certificate, which EIU maintains is a doctorate-level qualification. But the website also states that it could be considered an honorary qualification.