On March 7, 2023, Marriott International Maldives, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, and Maldives Institute of Technology (MIT) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Marriott International Maldives Apprenticeship Program for Maldivian youth in the tourism industry. The partnership aims to provide apprenticeship programs to young people, particularly marginalized youth, to develop their skills and prepare them for the job market in the booming tourism industry in the Maldives. This program will offer a unique opportunity for the participants to gain valuable work experience.

The first round of the program will begin in late April or early May and will accommodate 50 participants. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a level-3 certificate adhering to the Maldives National Skills Development Authority (MNSDA) national competency standards. The theoretical part of the program will be provided by MIT, while participants will gain work experience at Marriott International resorts in the Maldives.

Marriott International will provide training opportunities for youth at their seven resorts in the Maldives. Under the agreement, a total of 250 opportunities will be offered to youth in nine different fields for five years. The signing of the MoU is a significant milestone for both the government and Marriott International in their efforts to develop local talent for the hospitality industry.

Emma Jones, Area Director of Human Resources, Marriott International – Singapore, Malaysia, Maldives, expressed her excitement at the partnership with the Maldives government and the opportunity to hire and train local Maldivians. She believes that this collaboration will enable Marriott to identify local talent and contribute to their inclusion in the Maldivian hospitality market.

This partnership is expected to have a positive impact on the tourism industry in the Maldives and is a step towards building a successful pipeline of local talent. Marriott International Maldives is the first international hospitality brand to collaborate with the government apprenticeship program.