Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

University of Yangon

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Type
  
Public

Rector
  
Dr. Pho Kaung

Founded
  
1878

Undergraduates
  
2,000

Established
  
1878

Postgraduates
  
3,000

Phone
  
+95 1 534 390

Academic staff
  
1,023

University of Yangon

Former names
  
Rangoon College (1878) Government College (1906) University College (early 1920) Rangoon Arts and Sciences University (1964)

Motto in English
  
There's no friend like wisdom

Address
  
Pyay Rd, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Motto
  
နတ္ထိ သမံ ဝိဇ္ဇာ မိတ္ထံ; (Pali: nitthi samaṃ vijjā mitthaṃ)

Affiliations
  
ASEAN University Network, Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning

Notable alumni
  
Aung San, U Thant, Ne Win, U Nu, Ba Swe

Similar
  
Yadanabon University, Yangon Institute of Economics, Dagon University, Mandalay University, University of East Yangon

University of yangon


University of Yangon (also the Yangon University; Burmese: ရန်ကုန် တက္ကသိုလ်, [jàɴɡòʊɴ tɛʔkəθò]; formerly Rangoon College, Rangoon University and Rangoon Arts and Sciences University), located in Kamayut, Yangon, is the oldest university in Myanmar's modern education system and most well-known university in Myanmar since then. The university now offers mainly undergraduate and postgraduate degrees (Bachelor's, Master's, Post-graduate Diploma, and Doctorate) programmes in liberal arts, sciences and law. Full-time bachelor's degree had not been offered at the university's main campus since the student protests of 1996. Yet,the university reoffered the excellent students throughout the country, akin to the most excellent students of a year, the bachelor's degrees right from 2014 academic year. Now even including Political Science for Undergraduate students and other Postgraduate diplomas like social works and geology have been offered there.

Contents

Yangon University is the progenitor of most major universities in the country. Until 1958 when Mandalay University became an independent university, all institutions of higher education in Myanmar were under Yangon University. After the University Education Act of 1964, all professional colleges and institutes of the university such as the Institute of Medicine 1, Rangoon Institute of Technology and Yangon Institute of Economics all became independent universities, leaving the university with liberal arts, sciences and law.

From the beginning, Yangon University has been at the centre of civil discontent throughout its history. All three nationwide strikes against the British (1920, 1936 and 1938) began at then Rangoon University. Anti-colonial movement's leaders such as General Aung San, U Nu, Ne Win and U Thant were some notable alumni of the university. The tradition of student protested at the university continued in the post-colonial era—in 1962, 1974, 1988 and most recently in 1996.

Obama speech at university of yangon dvb live


History

Established in 1878 as an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta, the Rangoon College was operated and managed by the Education Syndicate set up by the British colonial administration. The college was renamed Government College in 1904, and University College in 1920. Rangoon University was founded in 1920, when University College (secular) and Judson College (Baptist-affiliated) were merged. The American Baptist Mission decided to recognise Judson College (formerly Baptist College) as a separate institution within Rangoon University. Rangoon University modelled itself after University of Cambridge and University of Oxford. All subsequent institutions of higher learning founded by the British were placed under Rangoon University's administration: Mandalay College in Mandalay in 1925, Teachers Training College and Medical College in Yangon in 1930, and Agriculture College in Mandalay in 1938.

Although it was attended only by the elites of the day, the university nonetheless was at the centre of anti-colonial movement. All three nationwide strikes against the British colonial government (1920, 1936 and 1938) began at the university. By the 1930s, the university was the hotbed of Burmese nationalism, producing a number of future senior Burmese politicians, including General Aung San, U Nu, Ba Maw, Kyaw Nyein, Ba Swe, U Thant and Thein Pe Myint, etc.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Rangoon University was the most prestigious university in Southeast Asia and one of the top universities in Asia, attracting students from across the region.

After the military coup of 1962 under Gen. Ne Win and the Burmese Way to Socialism, Rangoon University was put directly under the control of the Directorate of Higher Education, a central government agency, whereas previously it was run by a council of professors, scholars and government officials. In addition, the medium of instruction was changed to Burmese, a radical departure from English, which had been the University's medium of instruction since its founding. Educational standards began to decline markedly and international bodies stopped recognising degrees issued or obtained at the University. The university was also renamed the Rangoon Arts and Sciences University (abbreviated RASU), after certain departments and faculties (medicine, economics, education, etc.) were separated from the University in 1964.

Rangoon University students staged a peaceful demonstration and protest on campus against 'unjust university rules' on 7 July 1962. Ne Win sent his troops to disperse the students which led to dozens of students being shot dead and the historic Rangoon University Student Union (RUSU) building being dynamited to rubble the next morning.

In November 1974 the former UN Secretary General U Thant died, and on the day of his funeral on 5 December 1974, Rangoon University students snatched his coffin on display at the Kyaikkasan Race Course, and erected a makeshift mausoleum on the grounds of the RUSU in protest against the government for not honouring their famous countryman with a state funeral. The military stormed the campus on 11 December killing some of the students, recovered the coffin, and buried U Thant at the foot of the Shwedagon Pagoda.

In 1989, after the military junta had changed place names throughout Myanmar, the University was renamed Yangon University. The University was closed for most of the 1990s, because of fears of a repeat of the 8888 Uprising, to prevent student activists from assembling. To this day, the university is shut down at irregular intervals by the government. To prevent students from congregating, the government has dispersed the existing institutions and departments that make up Yangon University into separate learning institutions scattered throughout the city. Today, only graduate studies, certain professional courses, and a few diploma courses are conducted at the University's main campus. Newer universities such as Dagon University, University of East Yangon and University of West Yangon are designated for undergraduates.

Yangon University celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in a week-long celebration, which began on 1 December 1995. The Jubilee marked the school's formal establishment of 75 years. For its commemoration, the government built the Diamond Jubilee Hall, a four-storied building in the University's grounds, which cost K 630,000,000, and a new set of postage stamps was also produced. Once-affiliated institutes and departments (e.g., the Institute of Economics, Yangon which began life as a department at Yangon University), which had already separated, also celebrated.

Campus

Yangon University is located in Yangon, along the southwestern bank of Inya Lake, the largest lake in the city. It is on the corner of Pyay Road and University Avenue Road in Kamayut Township, north of downtown Yangon. The modern campus of Yangon University completed construction in 1920. There are two campuses, namely Main Campus and Hlaing Campus, the former being the most well-known. Judson Church, inside the main campus of the University, is a Baptist church, and like Judson College, named after Adoniram Judson, a 19th-century American missionary who compiled the first Burmese-English dictionary. The main campus also contains a convocation hall.

Housing

The accommodation in Burma is not mixed and the availability is limited. Women's halls have many limited rules whilst men's a few.

Other important buildings

  • Arts Building
  • Convocation Hall
  • Recreation Centre
  • Science Building
  • Universities' Dhamma Hall
  • Universities' Sanatorium
  • University Diamond Jubilee Hall
  • Universities' Hospital
  • University of Yangon Library
  • University Post Office
  • Painting Hall
  • Main Departments

    1. Department of Anthropology
    2. Department of Archaeology
    3. Department of Botany
    4. Department of Chemistry
    5. Department of Computer Studies
    6. Department of English
    7. Department of Geography
    8. Department of Geology
    9. Department of History
    10. Department of Industrial Chemistry
    11. Department of International Relations
    12. Department of Law
    13. Department of Library and Information Studies
    14. Department of Mathematics
    15. Department of Myanmar
    16. Department of Oriental Studies
    17. Department of Philosophy
    18. Department of Physics
    19. Department of Psychology
    20. Department of Zoology.

    Each department offers an undergraduate degree programme whilst Department of International Relations two,Bachelor of Arts(International Relations) and Bachelor of Arts(Political Science).

    Programmes

    Yangon University offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. The undergraduate programmes are subdivided into three categories: Arts (B.A.), Sciences (B.Sc.), and Law(LL.B). The choice of different fields of learning takes place in upper secondary school where students choose particular subjects directed towards their tertiary education. Postgraduate degrees are separated into three groups: Doctorates, Master's, and diplomas. Although YU no longer offered the undergraduate degrees owing to the uprising in 1996,it now was reopened for the undergraduate degrees with the name of (COE) what literally means Center of Excellence in 2014 and accepted only 50 selectively excellent students for each field of studies.

    Politicians

  • Aung San: National independence hero, Father of the Nations, revolutionary and founder of the Tatmadaw, the modern Burmese armed forces, 5th Prime Minister of British-Burma
  • Aung Thu: Minister of Agriculture
  • Ba Cho: Minister of Information 1946–1947
  • Ba Maw: Premier of Burma from 1937–1939 and Prime Minister 1943-1945 (period under Japanese Occupation)
  • Ba Swe: Prime Minister of Burma 1956-1957
  • Ba Win: Minister of Trade 1946-1947
  • H. N. Goshal: Communist politician
  • Henry Van Thio: Chin politician
  • Khin Nyunt: Prime Minister of Burma from 2003–2004 (did not complete B.Sc. degree)
  • Khun Htun Oo: Shan politician
  • Kyi Maung: Former army commander and leader of the National League for Democracy
  • Hso Khan Pha: His Royal Highness Prince of Yawnghwe, FIASR, son of Sao Shwe Thaik, Saopha of Yawnghwe
  • Maran Brang Seng: Chairman of the Kachin Independence Organization
  • Maung Khin: Chief Justice
  • Maung Maung: President of Burma Aug-Sep 1988, former journalist and lawyer
  • Maung Maung Kha:prime minister of Burma 1977–1988
  • Nai Shwe Kyin: Mon civil rights leader and revolutionary
  • Ne Win: Dictator, Chairman of Revolutionary Council, 4th President, 1st Chairman of Burma Socialist Programme Party and 3rd Prime Minister of Burma from 1962-1974,1974-1981,1981-1988 and 1958-1060 (did not complete pre-medical degree)
  • Ohn Maung: Deputy Minister of Transport 1946-1947
  • Pe Khin: Chief architect of the Panglong Agreement
  • Thakin Mya: Minister of Home Affairs 1946-1947
  • U Nu: 1st Prime Minister of Burma from 1948–1956, 1957-1958, 1960-1962
  • U Razak: Minister of Education assassinated along with Aung San in July 1947
  • Myoma U Than Kywe: politician, one of the leaders of the Panglong Conferencein 1947
  • U Thant: UN Secretary-General from 1961–1971
  • Win Maung: President of Burma 1957–1962
  • Kyaw Nyein:Politician, Deputy Prime Minister from 1948-1949 and again from 1953-1958, 1st Burmese Home Affairs Minister
  • Henry Van Thio : Politician, Second Vice President of Myanmar in President Htin Kyaw's Cabinet
  • Win Myint (MP) , 2nd Speaker of the House of Representatives(2016-)
  • Mahn Win Khaing Than , 2nd Speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw(2016-)
  • Academia

  • Hla Pe: Professor of Burmese at the University of London
  • John Furnivall: Scholar on Burma studies and civil servant
  • Nyi Nyi: Deputy Minister of Education (1965–1974), geology professor
  • Pessie Madan: Indian leader of the high-technology research and development sector
  • Pe Maung Tin: Scholar on Pali and Buddhism
  • Pho Kyar: Novelist and education reformist
  • Ronald Findlay: Ragnar Nurkse Professor of Economics at Columbia University.
  • Taw Sein Ko: Archaeologist and Director of the Burma Archaeological Service
  • Than Tun: Historian
  • Tha Hla: Founder of the Geology department, Professor of Geology, then Rector of Rangoon University before being ousted by General Ne Win after the military coup in 1962 and put into the role of 'Advisor to the Ministry of Mines'. Went on to UNESCO and UNDP for the rest of his career.
  • U Myint: Economist
  • Aung Tun Thet : Economist and Management Consultant
  • Khin San Yee : Politician, Economist , former Minister of Education and Minister of Science and Technology
  • Winston Set Aung : Politician, Economist and Management Consultant , incumbent Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar
  • Yin Yin Nwe , Myanmar's Chief Education Adviser to Myanmar President Thein Sein
  • Khin Maung Sein: A Malaysia-based international law scholar and the Deputy Dean (Research and Postgraduate) of Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws, International Islamic University Malaysia.
  • Arts and literature

  • Ba Gale: Cartoonist
  • Kyi Aye : Poet and writer
  • Collegian Ne Win: Film actor
  • Khin Myo Chit: Writer and journalist
  • Kyi Soe Tun: Film director
  • Than E (Bilat Pyan Than): Singer
  • Ludu Daw Amar: Leader of the Rangoon University students strike of 1936, writer and journalist
  • Min Thu Wun:Mon-Burmese scholar and poet
  • Saya Zawgyi: Writer and part of the Hkit San literary movement (did not complete degree)
  • Thein Pe Myint: Writer, journalist and politician
  • Theippan Maung Wa: Writer and part of the Hkit San literary movement
  • Tin Maung: Film actor and director
  • Wah Wah Win Shwe: Actress
  • Nwe Yin Win: Singer
  • K Ja Nu: Singer
  • May Sweet: Singer and actress
  • Zaw Win Htut: Rock singer
  • Sin Yaw Mg Mg: Film director
  • Graham (Myanmar): Singer
  • References

    University of Yangon Wikipedia