Educational background

Abdulla Sodiq received his BA degree in English Language Teaching from the University of Stirling, Scotland (1998). He also holds an MA degree in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the University of Leicester (2005). Being a teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), he holds a Certificate of Teaching English Language to Adults (1998, UCLES, Cambridge) and a Certificate of Education from the University of Warwick, UK (2007).

Research interests

English Language Teaching (ELT), Innovations in ELT, Linguistics and Further Education in the UK.

Affiliations and Professional experience

He has been working as an English as a Foreign Language and ESOL teacher since 1998. Currently, he is responsible for organising and teaching on a number of English Language courses at City College Coventry, UK. In addition to teaching and the management of ELT courses, he has experience in English Language examining and the conduction of ELT related staff training. Fellow of the Institute for Learning (UK).

Contact email: abdulla.sodiq@maldivesresearch.org

Educational background

Ahmed Niyaz holds a BSc (joint honours) degree in Business and Legal Studies from the University of Wales, Newport (2002). He completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Law in 2003 followed by the Legal Practice Course (Solicitors’ Professional Examinations) in 2005 at the De Montfort University (UK). He also holds a Masters degree in International Commercial Law (LLM) from the University of Leicester (2006).

Research interests

His research interests are in the areas of history and development of tourism in the Maldives and e-commerce law with special interest on intellectual property rights. 

Affiliations and Professional experience

He is an associate member of Institute of Credit Management. He started his career in the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives. He is the author of the first book written on Maldives tourism development "Tourism in the Maldives - a brief history of development" published jointly by the Ministry of Tourism and Maldives Tourism Promotion Board in 2002.

He has also worked in the banking sector and insolvency department in a major British energy company for 4 years. Currently he is working as an editor for a legal know-how provider in London.

Contact email: ahmed.niyaz@maldivesresearch.org

Educational background

Ahmed Shafiu received his B.Eng degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Birmingham, UK (2001). He also holds an M.Sc degree in Power System Engineering (2001) and a PhD degree in the faculty of Engineering and Physical sciences from University of Manchester, U.K (2005).

Research interests

His research interests include Distributed Energy Resources, Active Management and Power System Control and Protection.

Affiliations and Professional experience

He is a member of the IET and the IEEE. He has worked in the area of Power System Design, Generation, Operation and Maintenance for more than six years.

Contact email: ahmed.shafiu@maldivesresearch.org

Educational background

Aishath Ali Naaz received a B.A degree in Psychology, Sociology and English with Urdu as a second language from Bishop Cottons Women’s Christian College, Bangalore, India (1994).She holds an MSc Degree in Psychology, specialization being Clinical Psychology from the Bangalore University, India (1996).She received an M.Phil in Clinical Psychology from NIMHANS, Bangalore, India in 1999. She is currently in her third year PhD, Clinical Psychology, at the School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, U.K. She also has a Post graduate Diploma in Journalism which she received from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore, India in 1995.

Research interests

Her research interests are in the areas of mental health, such as psychosis, substance abuse, anger, violence and aggression. She is also interested in research related to mental health and human rights.

Affiliations and Professional experience

Naaz was the National consultant for the first Rapid situation assessment of the drug situation in Maldives (2003). She is the first Clinical Psychologist of Maldives and was a member of the first Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. She has also written five novels in the local language, Dhivehi and won three national awards for fiction writing.

Contact email: aishath.a.naaz@maldivesresearch.org

Educational background

Hassan Ugail received a BSc. degree with First Class Honours in Mathematics in 1995 and a PGCE in 1996 both from King's College London. He was awarded his PhD by the School of Mathematics at University of Leeds (UK) in the year 2000 for his research in geometric design..

Research interests

Dr Ugail is currently the head of visual computing research group at the University of Bradford (UK). He is involved in research in the area of computer aided geometric modelling, Engineering Design and Mathematical Modelling of real life scenarios.

Affiliations and Professional experience

As an active researcher and the head of visual computing research group at the University of Bradford (UK), he is responsible in managing a number of graduate students and researchers as well as acting as the principal investigator for a number of funded research projects. For more information please see: www.ugail.org

Contact email: hassan.ugail@maldivesresearch.org