New chancellors appointed to Islamic University and National University

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Tuesday appointed new chancellors to the Maldives National University and the Islamic University of Maldives.

Dr Hassan Hameed was appointed chancellor of MNU. Dr Mohamed Zahir Hussain was reappointed chancellor of IUM.

Hameed resigned as MNU vice chancellor in July 2015 after the former ruling party amended the national university law to authorise the president to appoint nine members to a 13-member governing council, including the chancellor and the vice chancellor.

The president could previously only appoint the chancellor, who also heads the governing council. The vice chancellor and two deputy vice chancellors were elected to the council while an independent committee selected additional members from candidates who apply following a public announcement.