UCC — Sayas

by Hla Min

Updated : Aug 2025

Saya Dr. Chit Swe (GBNF)

• He founded UCC with the help of U Soe Paing, U Myo Min and U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF).

• U Soe Paing, was my mentor at RIT and UCC. He contributed news and articles to “RIT Alumni International Newsletter”. He also wrote the draft for the HMEE (History of Myanmar Engineering Education) book.

• U Myo Min was working as Systems Analyst for IBM in UK when Saya Dr. Chit Swe requested him (via Saya Myo’s mother) to help co-found UCC (the first Computer Institution in Burma).

• U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF) served as Operations Manager and Scientific Applications Manager at UCC, Professor at the Department of Computer Science and at the Institute of Computer Science and Technology.

Still So Young And Passionate: Saya Chit (Dr. Chit Swe)

Even in his late 80’s, Saya had an active mind and a burning desire to payback to Myanmar.

He supervised Burmese students in Australia with their research and theses.

He studied Mathematics at Mandalay University. His contemporaries include Dr. Maung Di and U Khin Maung Tint (Tekkatho Phone Naing).

He did graduate studies at Imperial College (University of London) , Glasgow University and the University of Liverpool in the UK.

During his studies at Imperial College, Saya U Ba Than (Retired Professor of Mechanical Engineering, RIT, GBNF) was his room mate.

Saya was Head of Mathematics Department at the Institute of Economics when he proposed to the Ministry of Education to acquire a computer for research and teaching. Dr. Nyi Nyi requested saya to extend the scope of his proposal to cover selected universities and institutes. The UCC project was born.

It would take several years before UNDP would approve to fund the UCC project. UNESCO would act as the Executing Agency.

Mandalay Hall

Dr. Chit Swe succeeded U Ba Toke as Professor of Mathematics Department at RASU. He recruited volunteers to help plan for the implementation of UCC. He received permission to use Mandalay Hall as the temporary home for UCC.

Sayas — Dr. Chit Swe, U Soe Paing, U Myo Min, U Ko Ko Lay and several others — conducted courses on Computer Fundamentals & Programming, Systems Analysis and Design, and Numerical Methods.

Thamaing College Campus

UCC moved over to Thamaing College Campus as a neighbor to RC2 (Regional College Two). Dr. Chit Swe became the Founder and Director of UCC. U Soe Paing, U Myo Min and U Ko Ko Lay became Managers in charge of Systems Division, Applications Division, and Operations Division.

After reorganization, Applications Division was split into Business Applications Division and Scientific Applications Division.

Saya’s Vision

Saya was a pioneer and an advocate of “Technology Transfer”, “Leapfrogging Technology”, “Knowledge Sharing”, and TOSS (Team of System Specialists).

Saya is modest. During a trip to Chauk Htat Yone (Six Storey Office), the admin would “ignore” him and would pay respect to Ko Myint Oo (his student and volunteer assistant), who was well dressed and was carrying a suitcase.

Saya insisted a Component in the UCC Project Plan to invite the elite Computer Scientists and Practitioners including

(a) two Past Presidents of the prestigious ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) : Professor Harry Huskey (UCSC) and Professor Anthony Ralston (SUNY Buffalo),

(b) a future ACM Turing Award Winner (considered as the Nobel Prize for Computing) : Professor Michael Stonebraker (UCB) to UCC and jump start courses in Computer Science and Applications.

Misconception

Saya thought that I had served as an Editor for a newspaper. I had written articles, poems and translations for Guardian, WPD (Working People’s Daily) newspapers and Forward Magazine.

Upon learning that I was an RIT graduate volunteering for the UCC Project Maung Thaw Ka (Bohmu Ba Thaw, Chief Editor of Forward Magazine, GBNF) suggested that I should join his staff.

In my 3rd BE, editors from NAB (News Agency Burma) headed by Tet Toe (U Ohn Pe, Chief Editor) invited me to join their staff.

My parents supported my hobbies, but they wanted to make sure that I have a good education and a decent job.

I became a writer for Saya’s projects:

• High School Mathematics Curriculum Development
• Children’s Treasury of Knowledge (CTK)
• Planning for computerization of Government Departments
• Team of System Specialists (TOSS).

Saya believed in me and gave the opportunity to take challenges.

Life After UCC

After UCC, Saya served as Rector of RASU, but his passion for his “Dream Child” and his care for his former students never diminished.

After retirement, Saya taught at Assumption University — formerly known as ABAC (Assumption Business and Accounting College) — in Bangkok, Thailand.

Saya later relocated to Sydney, Australia and served as Visiting Professor of Macquarie University. Several Burmese completed their doctorates under his supervision.

Reunion With Saya In Australia

In June 2006, I visited Sydney, Australia to attend several gatherings:

• RIT alumni gathering headed by Saya U Hla Myint (Charlie, M65) and Saya U Myo Win (Melvin, M65, GBNF)
• UCC alumni gathering at Saya U Aung Zaw’s house where we paid homage to Saya Dr. Chit Swe and Saya Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (National Planning Adviser & Board Member of UCC)
• Old Paulians gathering at Olympic Park organized by Dr. Thann Naing (Bonnie Kywe, SPHS66, Geology70)

Saya’s Present

Saya asked me to give a lecture or seminar to interested young people in Sydney. He then presented me with his hat. I hope that Saya’s hat can “transfer” his brilliant thinking into my head.

Visits

In the past years, Saya visited Singapore and Myanmar and shared his wisdom, knowledge and experience.

He has minor health problems, but his mind is sharp as ever.

Saya Dr. Tin Maung (GBNF)

• He is the son of Saya Kar, who served as Minister of Education in the Caretaker Government. Saya joined the Department of Mathematics as Tutor. He went for further studies in UK. Upon his return, he was promoted to Lecturer.
• He succeeded Saya Dr. Chit Swe as Director of UCC. During his tenure, DCS (Department of Computer Science) was established with U Ko Ko Lay as Professor and U Tun Aung Gyaw as Associate Professor.
• In 1987, ICST (Institute of Computer Science and Technology) with Saya as Rector. There were four Departments : (a) Hardware Technology (b) Software Technology (c) Information Systems (d) Computational Mathematics. U Ko Ko Lay was Professor of Information Systems. U Tun Aung Gyaw was Associate Professor for Hardware Technology. I was Associative Professor of Software Technology. Bachelor degree courses in Computer Science (CS) and Computer Technology (CT) were given. In the first batch, there were 30 CS and 15 CT students.
• Saya Dr. Tin Maung continued to implement the Vision and Mission set by the UCC Founders, and managed to go further.
• He did not live long enough to see 26 batches (from ICST and UCSY) host the 5th Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe on January 14, 2018. San Yin Myint (Samanta, cousin of Ko Maurice Chee) and her friends posted a “Live” Facebook session of the Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe. Dr. Kyaw Thein (GBNF), Dr. Maung Maung Htay, U Myint Swe, Daw Nwe Nwe Win (Judy) and I gave short speeches at the Pu Zaw Pwe.

Saya U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF)

• He matriculated from SPHS in 1956 along with Saya U Soe Paing), U Win Htein (GBNF), Bohmu Percy Maung Maung (GBNF), Saya U Ba Min and U Than Se (Richard, ChE62).
• He is the elder brother of U Than Htut (M67, RUBC Gold), Maw (BDS) and Zaw (RUBC Gold, GBNF).
• He studied BSCE and MSCE at Stanford University in the US.
• He joined PWD as Assistant Engineer.
• He was recruited by his friend U Soe Paing to help with the UCC Project in general and the design and implementation of UCC Building in particular.
• He transferred to UCC as Operations Division Manager.
• He served as Scientific Applications Division Manager.
• He received Masters in Systems Engineering from the University of Lancaster, UK.
• Professor at the Department of Computer Science (DCS)
• Professor of Information Systems (IS) at the Institute of Computer Science and Technology (ICST)
• He enjoyed playing tennis, soccer and volleyball.
• He has an excellent command of English
• He passed away in the early 1990s.

Dr. San Tint (GBNF) and U Shein Soe Myint (GBNF)

Dr. San Tint (EE61) was my saya at RIT. He served as External Examiner for Computer Science students at UCC and DCS.

U Shein Soe Myint (EC83) is a classmate of U Thaung Tin (KMD, former Minister) and my cousin nephew U Thar Hlaing. He joined UCC, DCS and ICST as a graduate student, engineer and later saya. He was studying for his doctorate at NUS when he unexpectedly passed away.

The picture was taken at a mini-reunion of RIT & UCC alumni during my visit to Singapore.

Dr. Freddie Ba Hli (GBNF)

He received Sc.D. (Doctor of Science) from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). At MIT, Saya helped “fresh” scholars including Saya Dr. Aung Gyi and Saya U Min Wun acclimatize with the environment and studies.

He served as DG (Director General) of UBARI (Union of Burma Applied Research Institute) and Advisor for the Ministry of National Planning. He was a supporter of UCC Project and served as a member of the Board of Directors and as an External Examiner for the Computer Science graduates.

Daw Myint Thwe (Saya’s spouse) is the sister of Saya U Tin U (C), Saya U Ba Than (M, GBND), Dr. Daw Win Hlaing, Dr Myo Tint (GBNF), U Tin Htoon (A60), Saya U Myo Min (UCC), U Thaung Lwin (EC66) and Daw Cho Cho Hlaing.

Saya’s children — Ma Tin Tin Hlaing and Ko Tha Hlaing (EC83) — are UCC alumni.

During my visit to Sydney (Australia) in 2006, Saya U Aung Zaw hosted a UCC reunion and mini-PZP (Pu Zaw Pwe) for Saya Dr. F Ba Hli and Saya Dr. Chit Swe. Saya Chit gave me his hat. Ko Tha Hlaing gave me a book “This is Sydney”.

Ko Htay Aung (Victor, EC80) is a nephew of Saya U Sein Hlaing. He is the spouse of Ma Tin Tin Hlaing (Saya FBH’s daughter). Ko Htay Aung and team “programmed” a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory) to print Burmese characters on the Cromemco System Three micro-computer. He worked on Burmese Word Processing for Wang Computers. He migrated to Australia. For the past few years, he came back to Yangon to volunteer as an interpreter for the “10-day Mediation Retreat for Foreign Yogis” at the Mahasi Sasana Yeik Tha.

Robert Win Boh (EC69) wrote :

• I used to visit Dr FBH & his dear wife (RIT Saya U Ba Than’s sister) who are Ma TTH’s parents – to pay homage regularly before Saya Dr FBH passed away.
• Saya was fond of my present bought for them from Canberra Return Trip with Ko Aye Win Hlaing (EE) and Ma Phyu Phyu Latt (A71). It is a small woolen blanket hand woven by aged people and sold for charity at the Mid Way Market from Canberra.
• Saya always put the blanket on his lap when he watched TV news.