by Hla Min
Updated : May 2026
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 Scholarship 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 position for Instructors was created. It meant, most sayas have to wait to become Assistant Lecturers.
Memories
- Ko Benny Tan (M70) 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
HlaMin 