Alumni Association

by Hla Min

Updated : Aug 2025

Background

• Many universities have “Alumni Relations Department” and “Alumni Association“.
• They have personnel to reach out to alumni and hold alumni events.
• Notable and successful alumni support their alma mater in various ways. e.g. establish new Departments, Chairs, Research facilities, Mentoring programs, Internships

Sad story

• After the fateful Coup D’etat in 1962, all organizations (except BSPP and related ones) were banned.
• The practice continued to the Adhamma Era, when our alma mater was branded as “Thabon Kyaung” and the Swel Daw Bins were destroyed.

Perseverance

• With the dawning of the Pwint Linn Era, steps were taken to bring back the alma mater to former glory.
• In February 2016, U Wynn Htain Oo, U Tin Latt and U Than Htay proposed to U Aye Myint (then Rector of YTU) the establishment of an alumni association. The Rector gladly agreed.
• A core group helped with the registration of RIT-YIT-YTU Alumni Association.

Issues

• Many alumni were not aware of the association and its objectives
• Only a few (mostly members of the “80000 YaThay”) actively participated in the formative events
• There was virtually no fund to operate (let alone assist the alma mater)

Help and Resolution

Then, things started to click

• An office space for the Alumni Association was provided by YTU
• The association received nice Logo and Banner.
• Donations — large and small — were received (mostly for the YTU Library Modernization Project which is a requirement for the Accreditation).
  Donations were received from well-wishers (who are not alumni).
• Membership grew by leaps and bounds.
  Even alumni overseas joined the association.
  Currently, Life membership costs K60000.
• Saya’s Corner was established.
  Wheel chairs are available (especially for use by Sayagyis attending SPZPs).
• Staff and Volunteers helped with the regular and ad hoc projects (such as clean-up).
• The Annual General Meeting (AGM) was attended by alumni spanning three (or so) decades.
  Several young alumni came forward to take leadership roles.
• The association helped with YTU Library Modernization Project, z”Honoring matriculates of alumni” and the vetting of YTU students applying for financial aid.