Hawwa Shiuna Musthafa, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
Industrial and Organizational Psychology + Psychology in Health and Wellness
Vancouver
OVERVIEW
Dr. Musthafa is an accomplished researcher, academic, educator and an adjunct professor teaching Capstone- research related courses and Research Methods for the Master of Arts and Master of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (MAIOP | MIOP) as well as the Master of Psychology Health and Wellness (MOPHW) programs. She brings over 15 years of experience in multidisciplinary research. Her research spans to toxic leadership, workplace bullying, educational measurement and quality, research ethics, workplace dynamics, mental health and wellbeing, educational leadership & management, educational effectiveness, curriculum development, higher education policy, and matters concerning to children, youth, adults, and women. Her passion is for research that makes impact and brings meaning and empowerment to ordinary people and informs effective practices improve livelihoods. She has held leadership roles such as Principal, Senior research fellow, Assistant Professor, and Senior manager in both higher education and K-12 contexts. She serves as a reviewer for leading Q1 journals, including Studies in Educational Evaluation and Cogent Education, and serves as reviewer to international academic conferences such as European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), Belgium. Dr. Musthafa serves on Adler University’s Research Ethics Board and has contributed to national and international projects with collaborations with UNICEF and UNDP addressing social grievances, youth delinquency, and accreditation support in South Asian higher education. She is also a certified teacher in British Columbia, a career development professional, a Personality Dimensions certified trainer and holds various additional research-related certifications and career development trainings. Dr. Musthafa’s contributions to academia have been recognized through awards, including a Presidential Award by the President of the Maldives.
MEMBERSHIPS + ASSOCIATIONS
- CIM, Chartered Managers Canada.
- ISBN Distribution Oversight, Bureau of Classification, Maldives.
Publications + Presentations
Publications
Searching for stages of effective teaching in the Maldives: A study on the dynamic model of educational effectiveness.
Strategic integration of diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and artificial intelligence (AI) in human resource management (HRM): Current trends and future trajectories.
in human resource management (pp. 24). IGI Global.
Challenges and approaches for Agenda 2030: Perspectives of persons with disabilities in a small island context.
Values in Crisis. Values under the imprint of Covid19 pandemic in the Maldives.Wave 1 Summary Report. 2021
Values in Crisis. Values under the imprint of Covid19 pandemic in the Maldives. Wave 2 Summary Report.
Using student ratings and external observations to detect the effects of quality of teaching on student learning outcomes: a longitudinal study in the Maldives.
The role of social value orientation in modulating vaccine uptake in the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.
Virtual Focus Group Discussions: exploring new frontiers in qualitative methods.
Using the dynamic model of educational effectiveness to detect effective teaching characteristics in the Maldives.
Higher Education Challenges under COVID-19 Pandemic in the Maldives.
Disengagement of Maldivian youth: Analysis of the current situation, challenges and recommendations.
Inquiry on elimination of all forms of discrimination against women in the Maldives.
The impact of Covid 19 pandemic on the higher education sector of the Maldives: Responses and challenges
Social Value Orientations and Public Confidence in Institutions: A Young Democracy Under the Imprint of COVID-19.
The role of length of parental leave in strengthening mother- child bond and the husband-wife relationship in the Maldives.
Values in Crisis. Values under the imprint of Covid19 pandemic in the Maldives. Wave 1 Summary Report.
Determinants of socioeconomic experiences during COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives.
Survey sampling in the time of social distancing: Experiences from quantitative research in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
Presentations
Reflections on Best Practices: Building a Stronger Research Ethics Board and Addressing Implementation Challenges in a Rapidly Growing University in Canada
Ethics Boards Conference
Investigating the Impact of Quality of Teaching on Student Learning Outcomes in Maldives.
Educational Research, EERA, Yerevan State University, Armenia
Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Adult Relationships: Perceptions Through the Lens of Married People.
The Maldives National University, Maldives
Effects of Flexible Work Arrangements on The Work Life Balance and Motivation Of Employees In The Maldives.
The Maldives National University, Maldives
Public Perceptions and Experiences During the First Wave of the COVID-19 in the Maldives.
The Maldives National University, Maldives
Effects of the Longer Parental Leave Policy on the Well-Being of Mother and Child in the Maldives.
The Maldives National University, Maldives
Value Stability and Economic Experiences During the COVID-19 Crisis: Panel Study Data from the Maldives.
and Innovation (ICSRI) 2022, Villa College, Maldives
LEADERSHIP + ENGAGEMENT
Dr. Musthafa has supervised numerous capstone and RIIPEN projects for Adler University MIOP students, guiding applied research on topics such as employee turnover, leadership strategies, organizational culture, DEI in HR, and cross-cultural adaptation. She also chairs Ph.D. committees and is a member of Research Ethics Board at Adler University.
Dr. Musthafa actively mentors students in research design, publication, and evidence-based practice. She has reviewed manuscripts for journals, abstracts for international conferences, and book chapters, fostering scholarly rigor and bridging research with applied workplace and educational contexts.
CURRENT RESEARCH + OPPORTUNITIES
Dr. Musthafa is currently working on three book chapters focused on cross-cultural leadership, workplace counselling, and organizational ethics. She is also developing leadership case studies for applied learning and exploring opportunities for securing external research funding. Students interested in research, leadership, or workplace dynamics are encouraged to engage in these projects and can reach out via email to her to contribute to applied studies and evidence-based insights in organizational and educational contexts.