State Trading Organization (STO) has introduced two specialised engineering scholarships aimed at developing Maldivian expertise in concrete technology and elevator installation, as the company marked National Engineers’ Day.
The scholarships were officially launched at a ceremony by Maldives National University (MNU) Chancellor Dr Mahmood Shougee and STO Managing Director Shimad Ibrahim.
STO said the initiative is intended to create opportunities for Maldivians to develop specialised technical skills needed within the country’s engineering and construction sectors.
One of the scholarships will focus on Concrete Technology, offering engineering graduates an opportunity to undertake a one-year specialised programme at an overseas university. Applicants are required to have completed a bachelor’s degree in engineering.
The programme is intended to develop expertise in an area closely connected to the Maldives’ rapidly expanding construction and infrastructure sectors, where concrete remains one of the most widely used building materials.
A second scholarship will focus on Elevator Installation, with training to be provided in partnership with KONE Academy.
STO is the main distributor of KONE elevators in the Maldives, and the scholarship is designed to develop Maldivian technical professionals capable of working in the specialised installation field.
Elevator technology has become increasingly relevant as urban development in Malé and Hulhumalé shifts towards taller residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings. Developing local expertise could create additional technical employment opportunities while strengthening domestic capacity for the installation of such systems.
STO said the broader objective of the two scholarships is to train capable Maldivian professionals for areas where specialised engineering and technical knowledge is required, while providing young people with pathways to develop careers in these fields.
The scholarships were unveiled as government institutions and state-owned companies marked National Engineers’ Day with initiatives focused on engineering education, professional development and increasing Maldivian participation in technical professions.
The announcement also comes as the government pushes to expand the country’s domestic engineering workforce. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said during this year’s Engineers’ Day activities that he wants more Maldivians to pursue engineering qualifications and eventually take up a greater share of engineering positions currently requiring foreign expertise.
The President has also announced plans for a multidisciplinary engineering research and testing laboratory in the Maldives, covering fields ranging from civil, mechanical and electrical engineering to robotics, artificial intelligence and aeronautical engineering.
STO, meanwhile, has operations spanning several sectors of the Maldivian economy, including construction materials, fuel, healthcare, retail and other essential products and services. Its involvement in construction-related businesses has created demand for professionals with specialised technical and engineering expertise.
Through the two new scholarships, the company aims to develop local skills in fields directly connected to those operations while opening new opportunities for Maldivians seeking specialised engineering careers.
