University of Yangon

Coordinates: 16°49′48″N 96°08′06″E / 16.83000°N 96.13500°E / 16.83000; 96.13500
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
University of Rangoon
)

University of Yangon
ရန်ကုန် တက္ကသိုလ်
IPA:
Latin
: Universitas Rangunensis
Former names
  • Rangoon College (1878)
  • Government College (1906)
  • University College (early 1920)
  • Rangoon Arts and Sciences University (1964)
Mottoနတ္ထိ သမံ ဝိဇ္ဇာ မိတ္တံ
(
AUN), ASAIHL
Websiteuy.edu.mm

The University of Yangon (also Yangon University;

sciences and law
. Full-time bachelor's degrees were not offered at the university's main campus after the student protests of 1996. The bachelor's degree was re-offered from 2014 on. Today degrees in Political Science are offered to undergraduate students, as well as postgraduate diplomas in areas such as social work and geology.

Initially most major universities in the country depended on Yangon University. Until 1958 when

Yangon Institute of Economics became independent universities, leaving the Yangon University with liberal arts, sciences and law. In Myanmar, responsibility for higher education depends on various ministries. The University of Yangon depends from the Ministry of education.[1]

Yangon University has been at the centre of civil discontent throughout its history. All three nationwide strikes against the British administration (1920, 1936 and 1938) began at Rangoon University. Leaders of the Burmese independence movement such as General Aung San, U Nu, Ne Win and U Thant are some of the notable alumni of the university. The tradition of student protest at the university continued in the post-colonial era—in 1962, 1974, 1988 and in 1996.[2]

History

Established in 1878 as an

Teachers Training College and Medical College in Yangon in 1930, and Agriculture College in Mandalay in 1938.[5]

Rangoon College in the early 1900s, before it merged with Judson College

Although it was attended only by the elites of the day, the university was at the centre of the Burmese independence movement. Students protested against the British administration's control of the university and the Rangoon Act which placed the governor as chancellor of the University of Rangoon.[3] All three nationwide strikes against the British colonial government (1920, 1936 and 1938) began at the university. National Day in fact commemorates the rebellion of Burmese students at Rangoon University in 1920. 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.

Rangoon University became one of the most prestigious universities in Southeast Asia and one of the top universities in Asia, attracting students from across the region.[4][6][7] The Japanese occupied the university during the Second World War, but it recovered and flourished after Burma gained independence in 1948. This golden period ended in 1962.[3]

After the military coup of 1962 under General Ne Win, and 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 it was run by a council of professors, scholars and government officials.[4] 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 ceased to recognize degrees issued or obtained at the university.[4] 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.

The university suffered damage during World War II

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. Dozens of students were killed and the historic Rangoon University Student Union (RUSU) was reduced to rubble the next morning.[3]

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
.

Yangon University's Convocation Hall

Student protests against protest against General Ne Win's socialist government culminated in 1988. Student protest in March 1988 was met with a violent response from the government.[8] This did not stop the protests. On 8 August 1988, students around the country came together to protest against the military regime. The protest was supported by hundreds of thousands of people who went into the street in protest against the military rule. This is today remembered at the 8888 uprising. The movement was crushed by the army Chief of Staff General Saw Maung who took over and instated the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC or na wa ta). It is estimated that more than 300 students died in the protests. In the months and years that followed, many more were imprisoned.[3]

In 1989, the military junta changed place names throughout Myanmar; the university was renamed the University of Yangon. The university was closed for most of the 1990s, because of fears of a repeat of the

University of East Yangon and University of West Yangon were created to cater for undergraduates.[9]

A 2019 graduation ceremony for East Yangon University at the University of Yangon's Convocation Hall

Yangon University celebrated its

Institute of Economics, Yangon
which began life as a department at Yangon University), which had already separated, also celebrated.

The transition to a new government in 2011

National Education Law
was enacted in 2014. Under the law the university is managed by the Ministry of Education, who also appoints the university rector.

Campus

Judson Church at sunrise
Judson Tower in 2012
Universities' Dhamma Hall
Yadanar Hall
Main Entrance

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 restrictive rules whilst men's a few.

  • Amara Hall (Departments of Philosophy and Library & Information Studies)
  • Arts Hall (Departments of Geography and Oriental Studies)
  • Bago Hall(men')
  • Bagan Hall(women's)
  • Dagon Hall(women's)
  • Inwa Hall(men's)
  • Inya Hall (women's)
  • Mandalay Hall (Department of Geology)
  • Marlar Hall (women's)
  • Nawaday Hall (women's)
  • Panglone Hall (Department of English)
  • Pinya Hall(men's)
  • Prome Hall (women's)
  • Ramanya Hall (Departments of Law, Psychology and Anthropology)
  • Sagaing Hall(men')
  • Science Hall(Departments of Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Zoology)
  • Shwebo Hall(women's)
  • Taungoo Hall (Departments of Myanmar)
  • Visali Hall (Departments of History, Archeology and International Relations)
  • Tagaung Hall (women's)
  • Thahtone Hall(men')
  • Thiri Hall (women's)
  • ULB (Departments of Computer Studies and Industrial Chemistry)
  • Yadanar Hall (women's)

Other important buildings

  • Arts Building
  • Convocation Hall
  • Judson Church
  • Recreation Centre
  • Science Building
  • Universities' Central Library
  • Universities' Dhamma Hall
  • Universities' Sanatorium
  • University Diamond Jubilee Hall
  • Universities' Hospital
  • University of Yangon Library
  • University Post Office
  • Painters' House

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.
  21. Department of Biology

Each department offers an undergraduate degree programme. The Department of International Relations offers two: the Bachelor of Arts (international relations) and the 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. (Although undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are still available to current days, the recognition of status of international COE of the university has been discontinued.)

Notable alumni

Academia

Arts and literature

Business

Politics and government

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-415-35558-3
    .
  2. ^ Zin Linn (20 November 2012). "President Obama rejuvenates Rangoon University of Burma". Asian Correspondent. Bristol, England: Hybrid News Limited. Archived from the original (News & blogging) on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2012. People of Burma ... satisfied with the choice of a venue made by the US President ... the convocation hall of the University of Rangoon....
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Shoon Naing and Lun Min Mang (9 August 2016). "'8888 Uprising' remembered in Yangon|". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 2 May 2017. [dead link]
  4. ^
    ISBN 91-88836-16-9
    .
  5. ^ Ko Yin Aung (23 December 1999). "Prospects of education in Myanmar". The New Light of Myanmar. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  6. ^ Rothenberg, Daniel (Fall 2002). "Towards a New Modern Developed Nation". Journal of the International Institute. University of Michigan International Institute. Archived from the original on 6 May 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2006.
  7. ^ Szep, Jason; Raju Gopalakrishnan; Ron Popeski (27 November 2011). "Yangon: From stately city to crumbling symbol of isolation". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  8. ^ Lone, Wa (8 April 2014). "Red Bridge burns bright for student activists". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 3 May 2017.[dead link]
  9. ^ James, Helen (2005). Governance and Civil Society in Myanmar: Education, Health and Environment. Routledge. p. 102.
  10. ^ "Myanmar Philately". Tharaphi. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2008.
  11. ^ "Agriculture" (PDF). .iisc.ernet.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  12. ^ Ba Kaung (27 April 2011). "Thein Sein Appoints Presidential Advisors". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  13. ^ "Burmese Literary Pioneer". The Irrawaddy.
  14. ^ "CB Bank: Board of Directors". www.cbbank.com.mm. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yangon University.
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