Applications open for Universal Foundation and Villa College’s Discover Hospitality Program

Applications have opened for this year’s edition of the Discover Hospitality Program, co-run by the Universal Foundation and Villa College.

Universal Foundation and Villa College renewed their partnership to continue the program this year, with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on April 2, between Iyaz Waheed, President of Universal Foundation, and Dr. Ali Najeeb, Vice Rector of Villa College.

The renewed partnership marks the commencement of the eight batch of Discover Hospitality (Operations) and the third batch of Discover Hospitality (Culinary).

These batches are scheduled to start on June 1.

Applications for the upcoming intake are open until May 10. Applications can be submitted via the official website of Universal Foundation and Villa College.

Villa College has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Universal Resorts to launch the 8th batch of the Discover Hospitality programme, an initiative that connects Maldivian youth with real-world hospitality training and a clear pathway into the industry.

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— Villa College (@VillaCollegeMv) April 2, 2026

Launched in 2017, the Discover Hospitality Program is an ongoing initiative by Universal Foundation designed to cultivate talent within the hospitality industry and open career opportunities for youth.

To date, the program has trained over 200 students, with the seventh batch completing the program at the end of last year, and currently awaiting graduation.

The introduction of the Culinary CIII Certificate in 2024 significantly expanded the program’s scope, creating new pathways for students interested in pursuing culinary careers while fostering local culinary talent.

Since its inception, the program has successfully delivered training to seven batches in operations and two batches in culinary. It has become one of the most sought-after internship programs in the Maldives.

The Discover Hospitality Program continues to emphasize strong collaboration between industry and academia, ensuring students receive up-to-date knowledge, practical exposure, and comprehensive guidance. Through structured training and continuous performance evaluation, participants are encouraged to exceed their limitations and graduate as skilled, workforce-ready professionals.

The participants complete their theory classes at Villa College and a three-month internship placement at the properties managed by Versa Hospitality (previously known as Universal Resorts) in the Maldives.

All costs of the program are covered by Universal Foundation, while Versa Hospitality will pay an allowance to the participants.

With the continued commitment of Universal Foundation and Villa College, the program aims to create greater opportunities for youth and develop a new generation of industry-trained professionals in the hospitality sector.

Applications for the upcoming intake are now open, and the deadline for applications is 10th May 2026. Applications can be made via the official website of Universal Foundation and Villa College.