Notes 2

by Hla Min

Updated : July 2025

Academic Year

• An academic year usually spans two years.
  e.g. 1968 – 1969 academic year
• To save space and time, I use the end year instead of the start year and end year
  e.g. Class of 1969 (or simply Class of 69)

Early Days at Rangoon University

• The Faculty of Engineering accepted students who had completed I.Sc. (two years of Intermediate of Science) with the “Pure Science” option with reasonable marks.
• The engineering classes are named 1st year of Engineering to Final (4th year of Engineering).
• There were no “Instructors” .
  There were Assistant Lecturers, Lecturers and Professors.
  They are “Gazetted Officers”.

• Saya U Ba Hli, first native Dean of Engineering, proposed the Twinning Program between the Faculty of Engineering and prestigious universities in the USA.

• Some engineering students (e.g. Dr. Aung Gyi, U Min Wun, U Maung Maung Than, U Khin Aung Kyi, U Soe Paing) applied for “States Scholar” before graduation. They joined the Faculty upon their return to Burma.
• Some engineering students (e.g. U Sein Hlaing, U Tin Swe, U Allen Htay, Dr. San Hla Aung, U San Tun) joined the faculty upon graduation. They were selected to do post-graduate studies in the USA.
• Saya Dr. Yan Naing Lwin (Professor Emeritus, WIU) e-mailed me a copy of the “Burmese state scholars in the USA ’54”. There were about 400 state scholars including Saya U Sein Hlaing and Saya U Tin Swe.

Sports

• The Halls (e.g. Prome) would aggressively seek outstanding athletes (footballers, tennis players, rowers, …).
• U Chan Tha is Past Captain and Gold of RUBC Gold.
  He was Captain of the Prome Hall Soccer Team which won the Inter-Hall Trophy for two consecutive years.
  Saya U Tin Swe was a member of that victorious team.

New Education System in 1964

• The Rangoon University was reorganized into RASU (Rangoon Arts and Science University) and several Institutes (Economics, Education, Engineering, Medicine …).
• Burma Institute of Technology (BIT) was renamed as Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT).
  U Yone Mo, Dean of BIT, became the Rector of RIT.
• Matriculates were admitted to the 1st BE class using the controversial ILA (Intelligence Level Aggregate).
• Those who had passed I.Sc.(A) examination were admitted to the 2nd BE class based on the total marks.
• Those who had passed I.Sc.(B) examination were admitted to the 3rd BE class (equivalent to the Old 1st Year Engineering class).
• The positions for “Instructors” were created. It meant, most sayas have to wait to become Assistant Lecturers.

Memories

• Ko Benny Tan (M 70) lent me a copy of the “RIT Handbook” for 1966 – 67. I published the list of permanent and part-time sayas and sayamas in one of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” updates.
• Saya U Moe Aung (EE) has old copies of “Hlyat Sit Sar Saung” and RIT Annual magazines.
  He served as Chief Editor for both publications.
• Saya Charlie Kaw (Tex, GBNF) brought to USA projects of his final year students.

GBNF for UCC sayas and alumni

• Dr. Chit Swe (Founder / Director)
• Dr. Tin Maung (Director)
• U Ko Ko Lay (Co-founder)
• U Hla Min (EP70, Chief Operator)
• U Soe Myint (M72, Operations)
• U Maung Maung Gyi (Operations)
• U Maung Maung Lay (Operations)
• U Aung Myint (Systems)
• U Mya Thein (Business Applications)
• U Soe Thein (Business Applications)
• U Kyaw Nyein (Scientific Applications)
• U Win Naing (Scientific Applications)
• U Khin Maung Aye (M73)
• U Shein Soe Myint (EC83)
• U Aung Aung Thein (EE 8x)
• U Thein Tan
• U Hla Aye (Bhaimyar)
• U Myint Aung (Admin)
  
• Daw Win May Thaung
• Daw Kyu Kyu Lwin
• Daw Hla Hla Win
• Daw Khin Lay Myint (Admin)
• Daw Khin Mya Swe
• Daw Khin Toe Nyein
• Daw Thida Aung