Dr. Aung Gyi

by Dr. Aung Gyi & Hla Min

Updated : June 2025

Former Rector, RIT

Nativity

Born from my parents U Ba Pu and Daw Aye Kyi in Namtu, Northern Shan States, Burma.

Education

Matriculated in 1949 from Myoma High School in Rangoon.

After passing the 1st year engineering, BOC College of Engineering, Rangoon University in 1952, went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Mass., USA as a State scholar to join the second year engineering classes there.

Was in Dean’s list during the studies in MIT; and obtained B.S.(Civil Engineering) in 1955 and M.S.(Civil Engineering) in 1956.

Work

After working as a junior engineer in Tippetts- Abbett-MacCarthy- Stratton Engineers, New York and Green Engineering Co., Boston for a year, returned to Burma in 1957.

Joined the Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Rangoon University as an Assistant Lecturer.

Promoted to Lecturer and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering in 1958.

Marriage

Got married to Daw Mya Mya Mue in 1959. (Have a daughter and a son and two grand children from daughter who all live in Canada now.)

Doctorate

Went to the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Colombo Plan Scholarship in 1963 for further studies. Obtained Ph.D (Civil Engineering) specializing in structural engineering in 1965 from the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

Promotions

Returned to Burma in 1965 and promoted to Professor and Head of Civil Engineering Department in 1966.

Promoted to Rector of Rangoon Institute of Technology in 1971.

UNESCO

Left Burma to join UNESCO as Programme Specialist in Applied Sciences in 1977 in Unesco Regional Office in New Delhi, India.

IDRC

Migrated to Ottawa, Canada to join the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canadian Research funding Agency in Ottawa as an Associate Director in 1981.

Was then assigned to IDRC Regional Office in Singapore as Principal Program Officer from 1989 to 1992.

Was transferred to IDRC Regional Office in New Delhi as Principal Program Officer in 1992.

Was promoted to Regional Representative for IDRC Regional Office in New Delhi in 1995.

Retired from IDRC in June 1997 and now settled down in Nepean, Ontario, Canada with wife.

I look forward to seeing you all soon.

With Metta,
Aung Gyi

Updates (by Hla Min)

• U Thein Aung (Met72, Saya) was Associate Editor for the commemorative issue of RIT Alumni Newsletter for SPZP-2000. He compiled the biographies of the sayas and sayamas attending SPZP-2000. He also served as co-emcee.

• Saya has four grandchildren.
• I was a guest on two occasions (around SPZPs) hosted by Ko Wai Lwin in Yangon (a) one for Ma Ma Emma’s birthday (b) another for welcoming Sayagyi DAG and other sayas at U Nyan Tun U’s residence.
• Met Saya during his trips to California

• We spent a few nights at Ivan’s house. Saya & Ma Ma were also there to attend the RIT-UCC gathering hosted by Ivan

• Ko Ivan, Ko Fred, my spouse and I stayed at Saya’s house for two nights in 2015. Thanks.