Author: Hla Min (Lifelong Learner)

• The early Departments and sub-departments at UCC (universities’ Computer Center) are described in this post. Additional information can be found in the subsequent posts.
• Several are GBNF (Gone But Not Forgotten).

Office Of The Director

Director

• Dr. Chit Swe
  Professor of Mathematics at RASU
  Founder Director of UCC
  Alumnus of Manadalay University, Imperial College (London University), Glasgow University and University of Liverpool
  Retired as Rector of RASU
  Continued as Research Advisor in Bangkok and Sydney

• Dr. Tin Maung
  Lecturer of Mathematiccs at RASU
  Succeeded Dr. Chit Swe as Director of UCC
  Alumnus of Rangoon University; Received Doctorate from Queen Mary College
  Retired as Rector of ICST (Institute of Computer Science and Technology)

Services

• The Office is used to hold meetings with Board of Directors & Advisers.
• The Office provided service for the Experts including Professor Harry D. Huskey and Dr. S. I. Saleeb (Project Director) and

Administration

Superintendent

• U Myint Aung (GBNF) was the Superintendent. He was healthy and passed away lately in his eighties.
• He was succeed by U San Win. He unfortunately suffered a stroke.

Secretaries

• U Win Myint (1) later joined Winner Computer Group.
• Daw Khin Khin Su later moved to join Total (Oil Company owned by the French).
• Daw Khin Lay Myint later became Branch Clerk / Admin Officer

Other Admin Staff

• BC — Branch Clerk / Admin Officer
• UDC — Upper Division Clerk(s) & LDC — Lower Division Clerk(s)
  Ko Ba Than Chein, Ko Than Aye, Ko Tun Myint, Ko Khin Maung Lwin, Ma Phyu Phyu Win, Ma Tin Tin Pyone, Ma Kyi Kyi Sein, Ma Kyi Kyi Thin
• Peons
  The four Sayagyis had a Peon each as their PA (Personal Assistant).
  Win Myint Lay, Myo Myint, Tint Lwin, Tha Cho
• Security Personnel
  There were several for the day, evening and night shifts.
  U Tun Kywe, an army Veteran, usually “guards” the entrance to the Computer Room (on the Ground Floor of the UCC Building). He also vets the visitors climbing up the stairs to meet the staff.
  U Khin Maung wrote Kabyars.
• Maintenance Personnel
  Maung Myint, U Hla Pe …
  Daw Ngwe Tin, Aye Aye Myint, Hla Hla Myint, San San Myint …
• Drivers
  Saya Chit’s driver (who moonlighted as a Side Car Operator) was hit by a train at a railroad crossing. Volunteer drivers included U Myint Aung, Ko Win Hlaing, Ko Soe Myint Gyi and Ko Myint Oo.

Systems Division

Systems Division Manager

• U Soe Paing
  Received BSEE and MSEE from Stanford University; Joined RIT Electrical Engineering Department as Assistant Lecturer;
  Co-founder of UCC
  Received MSc. (CS) from Southampton University.
  Later, he also managed the Operations Division.
  He worked on UN projects in various countries.He was succeeded by Saya U Tun Aung Gyaw

Maintenance Engineers

• U Tun Aung Gyaw (EC69)
  He later served as Senior Engineer & Systems Division Manager at UCC, Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science, and Associate Professor of Hardware Technology at the Institute of Computer Science and Technology.
  Later, he received his Doctorate in Computer Science from UIUC (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign) with specialization in AI / Expert Systems
• U Hla Min (Systems) (EC69)
  He wrote lecture guides (Introduction to Computer Systems, Introduction to Programming) and manuals with U Soe Paing and U Aung Zaw. He later served as Senior Systems Programmer & Business Applications Manager at UCC, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Computer Science, and Associate of Software Technology at the Institute of Computer Science and Technology.
  Later, he worked for high tech companies in the Silicon Valley.
  He is a Lifelong Learner.
• U Soe Win (EC70)
  He transferred to PTC. After retirement, he helped with his spouse’s family business in Moulmein.
  
• U Tin Win (EC71)
  He transferred from RIT Electrical Engineering Department.
  He later moved to FRI (Forest Reserve Inventory).
• U Aung Myint (Phy68)
  He earlier served as Maintenance Technician in the Systems Division.

Maintenance Technicians

• U Aung Myint (Phy68))
  He earlier served as Lab Technician at RIT Electrical Engineering Department
• U Ngwe Soe (Silver) (AGTI)
  Later completed Japanese Diploma and B.Sc.(Physics)
  Worked with the ICL and PWD teams for the UCC building and equipment
  Moved to Singapore; Became Seimen’s Certified Engineer (for Power Systems); Worked in various projects around the world
• U Myint Soe (Byte) (AGTI)
  Later moved to PTC
• U Kyu Sein
• U Khin Zaw (Phy)
  Later worked in Singapore and USA.

System Programmers

• U Aung Zaw
  Taught at RASU Mathematics Department; Early Saya at UCC; He wrote lecture guides (Introduction to Computer Systems, Introduction to Programming) and manuals with U Soe Paing and U Hla Min.
  Later worked at CSO, Assumption University and a College in Sydney.
  Published two books: “Dhamma and Bawa” and “Cetana Thi Thar Kan”
• U Maung Maung Htay
  Received Doctorate from LSU (Baton Rouge); Professor at VMI; Professor at Radford University;
  Visiting Professor at UCSY
• U Than Lwin
  Moved to CSO,
  Later taught in Singapore; Director of a company
• Rafiul Ahad
  Later moved to Thailand and USA.
  Received doctorate from USC (University of Southern California); Taught at University of Maryland; Worked for several high tech companies in Silicon Valley; Retired Vice President of Oracle USA (Cloud Computing)
• U Soe Myint (KSM)
  Worked for UN; President of MASTAA

Other Systems Division Staff (some as Volunteers)

• U Sein Tin — Moved to Australia
• U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ) — Moved to Singapore and USA
• U Wynn Myint Aung — Moved to USA
• U Htay Aung — Moved to Australia
• U Maung Maung Tun — Moved to USA
• U Win Maung — Moved to Australia
• U Khin Maung Cho — Moved to USA
• Daw Tin Tin Pyone — Moved to FRI
• Several EC graduates and CS graduate students

Applications Division

Applications Division Manager

• U Myo Min
  Managed Application Programmers & Analysts for business applications, scientific & engineering applications.
  Later, the Applications Division was restructured in Business Applications Division (with Saya U Myo Min as Manager) and Scientific Applications Division (with Saya U Ko Ko Lay as Manager).
  Saya U Soe Paing subsequently managed both Systems Division and Operations Division.

• U Hla Min
  Succeeded U Myo Min as Business Application Manager
  
• U Mya Thein
  Succeeded U Hla Min as Business Application Manager

Application Programmers

• U Mya Thein (Bo Shoke)
  Transferred from Commerece Department, Institute of Economics
  Most vocal among the application programmers;
  Later became Business Application Manager
  Also taught at the Institute of Economics and ITBMU
• U Thein Oo (Ah Thay Lay)
  Transferred from Commerece Department, Institute of Economics
  Entreprenuer; Co-founder of MCI; Founder of Ace; President of Computer Federation
• U Mra Tun (Mra)
  Musician & Leader of TAMPS Band; Moved to USA
• U Kyaw Nyein (Kyein)
  Numerical Methods; UNV
• U Htin Kyaw (Htaw Kyin)
  Transferred from Statistics Department, Institute of Economics
  Worked for HIC and FERD; Helped Daw Khin Kyi Foundation
  Retired President
• U Tun Shwe (Saya Maung)
  Transferred from Statistics Department, Institute of Economics
  Retired UN Personnel
• U Aung Hlaing (Japan Sayagyi)
  Moved to Australia
• U Soe Thein (Joe Thein)
  Joined UCC as off-line operator; Became Business Applications Programmer
• U Soe Than (Joe Than)
  Received Doctorate in CS from University of Kansas; Retired Professor from VMI
• U Myint Oo
• U Win Naing
  Science Scholar for Mathematics
• Daw Tin May Lwin (Ju Ju)
  Retired Professor, ICST
• Daw Thin Thin Aung
• Daw Nwe Nwe Win (Judy)
  Retired CS Professor
• Daw Nge Ma Ma Than (Ma Nge)
  Taught Computers to former POC
• Daw Than Than Tint
  Co-founder of Ace
• Daw Gilmour Hole
• U Boe Ba Shan (Boe)
  Thaing expert; Entrepreneur in Singapore
• Daw Phyu Phyu Win
  Moved to Singapore
• Daw Hpyu Hpyu Aung
  Worked in Singapore and Thailand
• U Sein Myint Maung (Gary)
  UN; Moved to Australia
• Daw Khin Aye Mu (Ma Mu)
  Moved to Australia
• Several CS graduates
  Worked or Volunteered for UCC

Operations Division

Systems Manager for Operations Division

• U Ko Ko Lay
  Originally managed the Operatiosns Division.
  After the restructuring, he managed the Scientific Applications Division.
  The Operations Division was handed over to Saya U Soe Paing

Chief Operator (CO)

• U Hla Min (Pauk Si, GBNF)
  He passed away in his mid-30s.
  
• U Maung Maung Gyi (Thein Tan)
  Succeeded U Hla Min as Chief Operaftor
  

Operators

• U Maung Maung Gyi — later became Chief Operator
• U Kyaw Swar (Ah Leong) — later became Programmer; Moved to USA
• U Win Hlaing — Dobat Sayagyi; Computer Tuition
• U Maung Maung Lay (Patrick Saw, Ah Ba)
• U Soe Myint — later became Pro-Rector of ICST; Sunlun Kappiya
• U Myint Swe — later became Programmer & Lecturer; Co-owned company
• U Hla Aung — later became Programmer & Lecturer; Moved to Directorate
• U Kyi Win
• U Tun Kyi
• U Tin Win
• U Than Tun — Moved to USA
• U Myint Lwin (Charlie) — Burma Judo Champion; German Diploma; Moved to USA
• Some DAC and MS students & graduates

Several later made career changes as Programmers and Teaching Staff. U Soe Myint retired as Pro-Rector.

In the early days, U Maung Maung Gyi, U Win Hlaing and U Kyaw Swar served as Shift Leaders. There were three Shifts. The Morning Shift was run for staff, students and general users. The Evening and Night Shifts were run for selected user departments. The Population Census Data Project had a high priority.

There were several operators for card punch, manual punches, punched card verifier, and sorter.

Some did double duty as Job Controllers. They include Daw Nyunt Nyunt Tin, Daw Thi Thi Aye, Daw Hla Hla Win (GBNF), Daw Win May Thaung (GBNF), Daw Kyu Kyu Lwin (GBNF), Daw Tin Tin Yi (1), Daw Tin Tin Yi (2), Daw Khin Si Thaung, Daw Aye Aye Kyi, Daw Tin Moe Khine. Several later changed their careers or went overseas.

There was also a Librarian in charge of the Magnetic Disks and Magnetic Tapes.

Volunteers

• Kudos to the many unsung heroes who volunteered for gratis or for a per Diem of Three Kyats and Fifteen Pyas.
• They worked for various divisions.
• Some helped as tutors, teaching assistants and lab guides.
• Without them, the introduction of Computer Technology to Burma would not have been smooth and successful.

In the early days, there were no computers in Burma. IBM (International Business Machines) based in the USA and ICL (International Computers Limited) based in the UK had presence in Burma. Both companies were not ready to introduce computers to Burma. They were supposedly content with leasing unit-record equipment (calculators, tabulators, …) using punched cards (which were reused as wrappers of “zee thee htokes”). The companies maintained the machines with their staff. U Aung Khin was the IBM representative in Burma. U Kyaw Tha was the ICL representative in Burma. They were highly paid compared to the Government employees. Due to the policies then in place, IBM might not have incentives to introduce computers and computing technology to Burma.

In the early sixties, Saw McCarthy Gyaw (Burma Railways) wanted to upgrade the unit-record system to an ICL computer, but the Coup d’etat in March 1962 and subsequent restriction of foreign currency exchange (and budget planning rules) effectively derailed the idea of “computerization in Burma”.

In the mid sixties, Saya Chit (Dr. Chit Swe) was Head of the Mathematics Department at the Institute of Economics. He proposed the need of a computer for teaching and research to Dr. Nyi Nyi, then Secretary [Deputy Minister] of Education, Saya Nyi Nyi suggested the scope to be extended for a computer to serve the staff and selected students of the Universities and Institutes. Thus, the UCC Project was born.

Saya later became Professor at Mathematics at RASU. He offered space at the Mathematics Department for the early volunteers of the UCC Project. He later obtained permission to use Mandalay Hall for use by the UCC Project before the UCC Building could be completed in Thamaing College Campus.

Saya served as the Founder/Director of UCC. He initiated the academic and training programs. He stressed the importance of technology transfer, leapfrogging technology, knowledge sharing (internally and externally), and challengingthe staff and students to try their best. Saya Chit requested Saya Paing (U Soe Paing) to help design and implement the UCC project. Saya Chit also inquired the mother of Saya Myo (U Myo Min), who was working at IBM UK after completing his CA (Chartered Accountant) if Saya Myo would be interested to come back to Burma and help with the UCC project. Saya Paing recruited his friend Saya Lay (U Ko Ko Lay) to help with the UCC project in general and with the UCC Building Design and Implementation in particular.

It took a long time for UCC up and running. UNDP would be the Funding Agency. UNESCO would be the Executing Agency.

Note : For several years, Saya Paing tried to recruit his top students — including my cousin U Thaung Lwin (EC66) — to help with the project and become the pioneer computer engineers. U Thaung Lwin, who finished at the Top of his class, received an offer to join IBM Burma. It was Good News and Bad News. He was offered a reasonably high salary (based on the then salary of engineers joining the Government departments), but he would have to maintain the leased Unit Record Machines. It took a long time before an IBM computer was purchased by CSO.

U TAG (Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw, EC69) was the first and longest volunteer for the UCC Project.

Saya Paing transferred from the Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) at RIT to UCC as Manager of the Systems Division. Saya Lay transferred from PWD to UCC. Saya Myo joined UCC. The three served as Managers for Systems, Operations, Applications (Scientific, Business …) .

I was fortunate enough to be a member of Generation Zero along with my mentors and U TAG.

Saya Paing left UCC in the eighties to pursue a career as Technical Adviser and Consultant for the UN projects in several countries. He has documented his experiences from the early States Scholarship in the USA to the UN assignments. His articles can be downloaded from SCRIB-D.
Saya also gave an interview to MASTAA (Myanmar American Science and Technology Alumni Association).

UCC and Successors

• UCC — Universities’ Computer Center
• DCS — Department of Computer Science
• ICST — Institute of Computer Science and Technology
• UCSY — University of Computer Studies Yangon

Paying Back

There are blanks to be filled in the history of UCC, DCS, ICST and UCSY.
Several people asked me to take the challenge or at the very least motivate others to share their experience and journey regarding IT in Burma.

Relying on

• my reasonably good associative memory
• my story telling skills which I inherited from my father, Thin Sayas, Myin Sayas and Kyar Sayas
• my training in “Communication and Leadership” from Toastmasters International to become a DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster)
• my contributions — Docent at the Computer History Museum; Language Expert for the Burma Language Project by National Foreign Language Center at University of Maryland (College Park); Contributor for the Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife; Founder & Chief Editor of RIT Alumni International Newsletter; Member and Contributor of HMEE (History of Myanmar Engineering Education); Editor of High School Mathematics Project; Administrator and/or Moderator of websites and Facebook Groups
• my experience as a writer, editor, translator, interpreter, editor, coach, mentor

I will try my best to repay back to my alma mater and mentors.

I request sayas, alumni and readers to enhance my writings photos, anecdotes and suggestions.