University of Yangon

Infobox University
name = Yangon University
native_name = Yangon Tekkado IPA2|jàngòʊn tɛʔga̰dò


motto = With Truth and Loyalty
established = 1878
type = Public
faculty = 1023
Rector = Dr. Tin Tun
Prorector = Dr. Ko Ko Kyaw Soe
undergrad = 13,500
postgrad = 1,000
city = Kamayut, Yangon
state = Yangon Division
country = Burma
campus = Urban
affiliations = ASEAN University Network (AUN), ASAIHL

Yangon University (also University of Yangon) (Burmese: ), located in Kamayut, Yangon, is the largest and most well-known university Myanmar (Burma).

History

Established in 1878 as an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta, Rangoon College was operated and managed by the British. Rangoon College was opened by the Education Syndicate, which was established by the colonial government to manage educational institutions in Burma.cite book |last=James |first=Helen |title=Governance And Civil Society In Myanmar: Education, Health, and Environment |year=2005 |publisher=Routledge |id=ISBN 0-4153-5558-3 ] It was renamed Government College in 1904, and University College 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 the University of Rangoon. The University of Rangoon modelled itself after University of Cambridge and University of Oxford.cite book |last=Kyi |first=Khin Maung |title=Economic Development of Burma: a Vision and a Strategy |year=2000 |publisher=SUP |id=ISBN 9-1888-3616-9 |pages=150] Throughout the 1940s to 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. [cite web|last=Rothenberg |first=Daniel |date=Fall 2002 |url=http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/journal/vol10no1/rothenberg.htm |title=Towards a New Modern Developed Nation |publisher=The Journal of the International Institute |accessmonthday=22 May |accessyear=2006]

However following the ascent of the socialist government of Ne Win in 1962 under 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, the University was operated by a council of professors, scholars and government officials. In addition, the medium of instruction of the University of Rangoon was changed to Burmese, a radical departure from English, which had been the University's medium of instruction since the founding of the University. Educational standards declined markedly and international bodies stopped recognizing degrees issued or obtained at the University. The university was renamed the Rangoon Arts and Sciences University (my|ရန္‌ကုန္‌၀ိဇၨာႏွင့္‌ သိပၸံတကၠသိုလ္; abbreviated RASU), after departments and faculties (medicine, economics, education, etc.) were separated from the University. In 1989, after the military junta had changed place names throughout Myanmar, the University was renamed Yangon University or University of Yangon. Yangon University was closed throughout the 1990s, because of fears of a repeat of the 8888 Uprising, in order 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 separated the existing institutions and departments that make up Yangon University into separate learning institutions dispersed throughout Yangon. Today, only graduate courses, some professional courses and a few diploma courses are conducted at the University's main campus, with newer universities such as Dagon University, designated for undergraduates.

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

Historical events

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 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.

Campus

Yangon University is located in the former capital city of Yangon, Burma. The university itself is located along the southwestern bank of Inya Lake, the largest lake in Yangon. It is located on the corner of Pyay Road and University Avenue Road. The university is 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 main campus is the most well-known. The Judson Church, inside the main campus of the University is a baptist church; the name Judson derives from that of Adoniram Judson, an American missionary who completed the first Burmese-English dictionary. There is also a convocation hall inside the university.

Department

* Department of Mathematics
* Department of Physics
* Department of Chemistry
* Department of Industrial Chemistry
* Department of Zoology
* Department of Botany
* Department of Law
* Department of English
* Department of Myanmar
* Department of History
* Department of International Relation
* Department of Geology
* Department of Oriental Studies
* Department of Information Technology * New *

Accommodation

Main Campus

University accommodations in Burma are not mixed and limited. Female accommodation has limited rules while male are none.

* Ava Hall
* Bago Hall
* Bagan Hall
* Dagon Hall
* Innwa Hall
* Innya Hall (Female)
* Malar Hall (Female)
* Nawaday Hall
* Pinya Hall
* Pyay Hall
* Pyay, Bagan, Dagaung (Female)
* Sagaing Hall
* Shwebo Hall
* Taungoo Hall
* Tagaung Hall
* Thahton Hall
* Thiri Hall (Female)
* Yadanar Hall (Female)

Other important buildings

* Arts Building
* Convocation Hall
* Recreation Centre
* Science Building
* Universities' Dhammayon
* Universities’ Sanatorium
* University's Diamond Jubilee Hall

Programmes

Yangon University offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. The undergraduate programmes further subdivided into three categories: Arts (B.A.), Sciences (B.Sc.), and Law. The fields are chosen at upper secondary school, at which students choose particular subjects directed toward their tertiary educations. Postgraduate degrees are separated into three groups, Doctorates, Master's, and diplomas. Since the uprising of 1996, YU no longer offers any full-time undergraduate program. In addition, there is no more on-campus students since authorities did not allow.

Notable alumni

* Aung San: Founder of modern Burmese military and revolutionary figure
* Ba Maw: Prime minister of Burma from 1937–1939 and 1943-1945 (period of Japanese occupation)
* Ba Gale: Cartoonist
* Khin Myo Chit: Author and journalist
* Khin Nyunt: Prime minister of Burma from 2003–2004 (did not complete B.Sc. degree)
* Maung Maung: Journalist
* Sir Maung Khin: Chief Judge of High Court in Yangon
* Min Thu Wun: Mon-Burmese scholar
* Nai Shwe Kyin: Mon civil rights revolutionary
* Ne Win: Dictator of Burma from 1962–1988 (did not complete pre-med. degree)
* Than Tun: Historian
* Kyi Maung: Former National League for Democracy leader
* U Nu: Prime minister of Burma from 1948–1956
* U Razak: Minister of education of Burma in 1948
* U Thant: UN Secretary-General from 1961–1971
* Thein Pe Myint: Writer, journalist and politician

Notes

External links

* [http://www.myanmar-education.edu.mm/ MOE (Ministry of Education)]