A total of 237 Myanmar citizens including seamen who were stranded in foreign countries – 125 from the Philippines and 112 from Singapore –because of the suspension of commercial flights returned home by relief flights yesterday.

The Myanmar Embassy in Manila organized the relief flight of Myanmar National Airlines to repatriate 125 Myanmar nationals from the Philippines. The flight landed at Yangon International Airport at 6 pm.

The Myanmar Embassy in Singapore organized the third relief flight of Myanmar National Airlines to bring back 112 Myanmar seamen home from Singapore. The flight landed at Yangon International Airport at 7 pm.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government provided them with proper medical tests and arranged 7-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working with Myanmar embassies in foreign countries and local ministries concerned to bring back citizens stranded abroad due to the suspension of international commercial flights, in accordance with the guidance of the National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19.

MNA

PHOTO : MNA

(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)

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A delegation from the Republic of Korea led by Mr Park Bokyeong, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on New Southern Policy, on their goodwill tour in Myanmar, visited the Myanmar-Korea Friendship Bridge (Dala) Project in Yangon yesterday.

At the bridge’s briefing room, Consultant Company for the bridge construction Soosung Engineering’s Deputy Project Manager Mr Park Andrew explained about the bridge construction project with the use of video clip including data and facts relating to the project, its importance, and potential development of the Yangon City.

Chairman of the Presidential Committee on NSP Mr Park Bokyeong said that despite a bridge that links between Yangon and Dala, it can be said that the one that links between ROK and Myanmar, adding that people who cross the bridge in completion of the bridge in 2022 would feel close friendship of the two countries.

Transportation between Yangon and Dala in the past was by waterway, and it took about two hours by cars. When the bridge is completed, it will only take about five minutes and the lifestyle of the people in Dala side will develop, he said.

He added that a modern bridge constructed by ROK would emerge, and engineering technologies would be obtained from ROK, stressing the importance of the completion of the bridge during the target time.

Deputy Minister for Construction Dr Kyaw Lin said that the completion of the bridge would help develop the lifestyle of people living in Dala side and would be a gateway to Yangon from Ayeyawady Region.

The Presidential Committee on NSP Chairman and the Deputy Minister looked around the workplaces on the project’s temporary bridge and working platform in Yangon side.

The bridge constructed with the use of EDCF loan is a four-lane cable-stayed type and is 6,128 feet long. The four lanes of the adjacent bridge in Dala side will lead to Dala Clock Tower, and of the four lanes in Yangon side, two will lead to Phone Gyi Street and one to War Dan and another to Pansodan taking Strand Road.

It will take a total of 41 months to fully complete the bridge and now 21 per cent complete.

In the afternoon, the ROK delegation attended the COVID-19 medical supplies donation ceremony made by Korean Association, ROK government and UNHCR at the Lotte Hotel.

MNA

(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)

Photo: MNA

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THE Insein Railway Flyover (2), Mingyi road tributary bridge, will be opened on the Independence Day, 4 January 2021.

The flyover was developed at the corner of Lan Thit road and Mingyi road by A1 Construction Company with the supervision of Myanma Railway, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, in Insein Township, Yangon Region.

The 441-foot-long flyover over the Insein Railway took a year to be finished and cost K1,900 million from the Union Fund.

“Vehicles coming from Hlinethaya and Insein townships will be able to cross this newly-built bridge, which will be very beneficial for drivers going to Mingyi road,” explained U Maung Cho, Chief Engineer, who was in charge of the road project.

It is reported that the new bridge (2) will have direct access to Insein Hospital, Government Technological Institute (Insein), District Administration Office and Township Administration Office, making it convenient for all traffic users, including health workers, students and departmental personnel.

Pwint Thit Sar

(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

Photo: Pwint Thitsar

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MYANMAR Embassy in Singapore organized the 31st relief flight for the 148 citizens who wanted to come back from the city state.

They arrived at Yangon International Airport by the Myanmar National Airways yesterday evening.

Moreover, the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok organized the 13th relief flight to bring back 40 citizens from Thailand, and they landed in Yangon in the same evening.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government arranged 7-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cooperating with the relevant ministries for the repatriation of Myanmar citizens who are stranded in foreign countries in accordance with the instructions from National-Level Central Committee on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

MNA

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A relief flight of Myanmar Airways International organized by the Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur landed at Yangon International Airport with 120 seamen stranded in Malaysia, and 47 former detainees in Malaysia, totally 167 yesterday afternoon.

Moreover, another relief flight of the MAI organized by the Myanmar Embassy in Riyadh also brought back 132 citizens stranded in the UAE yesterday evening.

These second group included 4 from Saudi Arabia, 70 from the United Arab Emirates, 9 from Egypt, 10 from Britain, 6 from South Africa, 3 from the Netherlands, 3 from Brazil, 4 from Tanzania, 5 from Maldives, 4 from Ethiopia, 3 from Pakistan, 9 from Iran, and 2 from France, totally 132.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government arranged 7-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

To bring back the Myanmar citizens, who are stranded in foreign countries, by relief flights and chartered flights in accordance with the instructions from National-Level Central Committee on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperated with the relevant ministries, Myanmar embassies from respective countries and shipping companies.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Photo: MNA

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A total of 172 Myanmar nationals stranded in Malaysia because of the suspension of commercial flights returned home by an MAI relief flight yesterday.

Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur organized the relief flight of Myanmar Airways International to repatriate the Myanmar citizens from Malaysia. The flight landed at Yangon International Airport in the evening.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government provided them with proper medical tests and arranged 7-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, under the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been working with relevant organizations in Malaysia to repatriate Myanmar citizens who have no official documents and who were detained in Malaysia by verifying their citizenship.

Until now there have been 35 relief flights that can manage to repatriate Myanmar nationals from Malaysia.

MNA

(Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)

Photo: MNA

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A total of 126 Myanmar seamen arrived back home by an MAI relief flight organized by Myanmar Embassy in Seoul and the Crew Change Supporting Committee (CCSC) via Incheon International Airport yesterday morning.

The returnees included 71 Myanmar citizens from ROK, 12 from Singapore, 2 each from Netherland, Indonesia and the UAE, 6 from Ivory Coast, 14 from Egypt, 1 each from Kenya, Bangladesh and Panama and 14 from the Philippines.

Then, the 33rd MAI relief flight organized by Myanmar Embassy in Seoul brought back 168 Myanamr citizens in the same evening.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government arranged 7-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

To bring back the Myanmar citizens and Myanmar seamen who are stranded in foreign countries by relief flights and chartered flights in accordance with the instructions from National-Level Central Committee on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperated with the relevant ministries, companies and Myanmar embassies from respective countries.

MNA

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

Photo: MNA

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THE 100th anniversary of University of Yangon was held on virtual celebrations yesterday.

After the opening ceremony of the event with the song entitled ‘Centenary Celebrations of Yangon University’, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Vice-President U Myint Swe, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint, Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and Rector of Yangon University Dr Phoe Kaung used a virtual system in cutting the ceremonial ribbon of the opening ceremony.

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as the Chairperson of Steering Committee on Organizing Centenary Celebrations of University of Yangon, delivered a congratulatory message on video.

Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, the alumnus of University of Yangon also sent a video speech of congratulatory remark on the ceremony.

Union Minister for Education, the secretary of the steering committee, made his congratulatory remark, explaining collective works on upgrade of University of Yangon after forming a committee on upgrading the university dated on 27 November 2012 with the approval of Pyithu Hluttaw on the proposal of Kawhmu constituency’s Pyithu Hluttaw MP Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (now the State Counsellor) for ‘Drawing University New Act and Upgrade of Yangon University (Main)’ ; she led the committee that worked for upgrade and renovation of the university in line with international standards.

The Union Minister also talked about resuming under-graduate courses in 2013- 2014 academic year after the suspension of the courses for many years, plans to upgrade the university, research and coordination under the management of university since April 2016, emphasis on emotional intelligence in appointment, transfer and promotion of academic staff and other issues in relation to the academic sector, administrative sector and infrastructural development of the university by drawing a master plan while focusing on the emergence of university autonomy in the long term.

The Union Government approved the organizational structure of faculties for University of Yangon and 16 universities in August 2020 to encourage reform programmes in the higher education sector.

He added that crucial role of self-autonomy at the universities to fulfil the requirements of the Union, upgrade of software in education and upgrade of hardware in facility and equipment, the four prioritized plans for promoting self-autonomy at the universities, capacity and skill buildings, development of graduate courses, curriculum, research and services, and infrastructural developments.

The Union Minister continued to say that the need of region/state governments to work together with the Ministry of Education in developing master plans for the universities in respective areas, the ministry’s support in forming university management committees with self-autonomy, collaborative efforts among rectors, pro-rectors, deans and officials in developing effective education for Union nationals, new subjects for diploma and graduate courses at Yangon University commencing 2019- 2020 academic year.

He also talked about an upgrade of the world ranking of Yangon University from 13,072 in 2016 and 7,116 (increasing by 5,956) in 2020, the ministry’s assistance to develop different teaching methods such as teaching in the classroom, digital method and combined methods.

Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, in his capacity as the joint-secretary of the steering committee, made a speech on honouring the dignity of Yangon University, the emergence of the university in 1920, anti-colonial movements of former university students, its relation with the National Day, up and downturn of the university under different administrations and eras, independence movement and the university, outstanding alumni in various sectors, and democracy movements and the university.

After presenting a video of the works of committees on holding centenary celebrations, Yangon University Rector Dr Phoe Kaung extended his gratitude.

Rector of University of Medicine (1) in Yangon Dr Zaw Wai Soe expressed thanks after screening a video clip on research paper reading session that marked the centenary of the university.

A video clip on competition of literary paper and poems was presented, and awards were given to the winners. Rector of the University of Economics (Yangon) expressed thanks for the competition.

A video clip of quiz competition was shown, and awards were given to the winners, and then Mayor of Yangon City Development Committee extended greeting.

A video clip of competitions for articles, poems, short stories, cartoons, arts and photos was shown, and awards were given to the winner, and then Acting Director-General of Information and Public Relations Department U Aye Kywe expressed thanks.

Director-General of MRTV U Ye Naing expressed thanks after a video clip on presentation of 100 university songs, Myanmar film and other celebrations.

Director-General of Higher Education Department under the Ministry of Education expressed thanks after the video clip on the performance of Ah Nyeint troupes. The centenary celebrations of Yangon University were concluded with the song ‘University: The Emerald Land’

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Photo: MNA

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An award-given ceremony for the arts and literary competition entitled “Yangon Tet Ka Thol Mya Kyun Nyo” (Yangon University: An Emerald Island) was held at Film Development Centre of Motion Picture Promotion Division, under the Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Information yesterday.

The competition for photo, painting, poem, articles, novels and cartoon contests was marked for the 100th Anniversary of Yangon University.

Rector of the University of Yangon Dr Phoe Kaung firstly said, “The Yangon University was established on 1 December 1920 and will be 100 years old on 1 December 2020. The main aims of holding these competitions are to conserve the tradition and sustainable development of the university. These artworks will reveal the dignity of the university for all, including the new generations. I also thank the officials of the Ministry of Information for organizing such competitions.”

Dr Tin Win, Rector for the Yangon University of Economics, in his capacity as Chairman of Organizing Committee made a remark and the Rector of Yangon University, Chairman of Organizing Committee and the officials of Information presented awards to the winners of competitions.

U Min Thein Mon (Aung Hait) expressed words of thanks on behalf of award winners and took commemorative photos with all attendees.

MNA (Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

PHOTO: MNA

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Professor Chaw Chaw Sein (PhD), University of Yangon

THE University of Yangon, established in 1920, was once the most outstanding university in Myanmar and has been recognized all over Southeast Asia for its high standards of graduate education. Known as Rangoon University in the days of the independence period, the University is also known for its historic political movements led by students such as the independence movement, the U Thant (former United Nations Secretary-General) movement, 1962 coup and democracy movement that led to the 1988 uprising. However, under military administration, it was closed for undergraduate programmes from 1995 to 2012 due to political reasons. It was only after Myanmar’s historic transition in 2011 with a semi-civilian government installed that the reopening of University became a wish of stakeholders in Myanmar. The new government introduced series of reforms and efforts for reopening the University of Yangon were considered. From the side of Parliament, the proposal of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to upgrade the University was passed in November 2012. The University has been under reform since then and many stakeholders paid thoughtful attention to it becoming a Flagship University of Myanmar with autonomy.

Reform period

The reform period has been in place for eight-years and opportunities as well as challenges have emerged. Many opportunities have risen by bringing back to the University its momentum in collaboration with regional and international universities. Many faculty members and students have been joining overseas scholarship programmes, receiving training on teaching and research and attending leadership and management programmes offered by external partner universities and external institutions. Some academic freedoms are granted but with out financial and administrative autonomy. The challenge for achieving autonomy during Myanmar’s transition has several important characteristics such as the centralized culture that has been embedded for many years. The freedom for the formation of student unions as well as teacher associations has seen different opinions ex pressed about the future University structure as has the involvement of strong alumni who wish to see the golden image of their university restored.

A public university

The University of Yangon is a public university and all the University leaderships, teachers and admin staff are civil servants. So, the reform process is a top-down reform process and several actors play important roles in this process. Key actors who play important roles in this process are State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Ministry of Education, the National Education Policy Commission (NEPC), the Parliament, student unions, teacher association, University alumni and various external actors such as foreign funding agencies and universities. Various enthusiastic efforts by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to revitalize and upgrade the University can be considered as a key actor. At the first Pyithu Hluttaw fifth regular meeting, the proposal to renovate and upgrade the University of Yangon was submitted by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a member of Parliament. Together with the proposal and wish of many, it became necessary to implement major renovations and to improve its educational quality to reach the international standard. After the proposal was accepted and approved, the Committee on Revitalization and Upgrading the University of Yangon was established in December 2012. The Committee, chaired by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was formed with four sub-committees in order to implement programmes for revitalizing and upgrading the university. They are (1) the sub-committee for Fund Raising, (2) the sub-committee for Management and Allocation of Fund, (3) the sub-committee for Renovation and (4) the sub-committee for Promotion of Educational Quality. These sub-committees continuously discuss the follow-up activities in order to transform the University of Yangon into an excellent academic institution, where people can have access to a world-class education. Several meetings were held at I-12 building of the Parliament to implement the revitalization process.

In this context, external actors such as the Australian government, AusAID, the UK government, the British Council and the Central European University came to support the University’s reform. As mentioned above, to support the work of the Revitalization Committee, two overseas study tours were conducted at the direct request of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in her capacity as chair of the Revitalization of University of Yangon. In May 2013, Dr Myo Myint, Deputy Minister of Education headed the study tour to UK. Another study tour to Australia was led by Dr Soe Yin former Rector of University of Yangon and Member of Parliament in October 2013. These study tours were to learn about the well-developed university system in the UK and Australia. To support the reform process, SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threat) analysis was conducted with the support of Australian Aid. The SWOT analysis was implemented by faculty members of UY in collaboration with education experts from Australia. The report highlights the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities as well as threats of the University. It analyzed the needs for autonomy such as autonomy over academic programme - degrees, curricula, assessments, autonomy over research programmes and publications, autonomy over budgets, autonomy to select its own staff and students based on ability, autonomy to identify, develop and participate interna tional collaborations and the immediate need of a Master Plan for the University. These programmes were initiated by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and have been supported by external actors since her tenure as a member of Parliament.

The key actor

The key actor from the government is the Ministry of Education. From 2011-2014, Dr Mya Aye, former Rector of Mandalay University was appointed as Minister for Education. After his death in 2014, Dr Khin San Yee, former Rector of Yangon Economic University, was appointed as Minister. The Ministry also supports the programmes initiated by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi concerning budget allocation. For the infrastructural development of the University, the priority is given for the renovation of the Bago Hall (men’s hostel) where national hero General Aung San stayed during his student life. The Ministry has decentralized in the area of international cooperation to some extent, giving the University the ability to sign MoUs with foreign universities, allowing the faculties to participate in international seminars abroad, and awarding President’s scholarships to the students. All these efforts support the University to become centre of excellence among other universities in Myanmar.

PHOTO: PHOE KHWAR

(To be continued)

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