Category: UCC

  • Application Division (UCC)

    Application Division (UCC)

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    U Soe Than

    • Graduated with Mathematics from RASU.
    • M.Sc. from the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom.
    • Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in the United States.
    • Taught at VMI (Virginia Military Institute).
    • He is currently working in the Washington, D.C, (District of Columbia).
    • His friend Sayama Daw Swe Swe Than asked U Soe Than to tutor her sister Daw Wai Wai Than. The rest is history.
    Soe Than

    U Mra Tun

    • Mra is a Rakkhine spelling for Mya.
    • Mathematics major
    • Joined UCC as an applications programmer.
    • There were some difficulties in finding a suitable university for Mra in the UK. He received an offer from the University of Belfast, but there was violence notably in connection with IRA [Irish Republican Army].
      He ended up migrating to the United States.
    • He owns a set of equipment (Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Audio) to form a band.
    • He was the leader of TAMPS band (formed with the initials of the members): Tin Aung, Austin Xavier, Mra Tun, Pierpont Morgan and Sidney Sann Aung.
    • In the USA, he often jams with the local music bands.
    • He and Ricky Zaw (brother of Daw Nyunt Nyunt Zaw (T68)) performed a duet at the BASES Annual Dinner in Los Angeles.
    • He worked as an independent consultant and as a contractor for IBM. Most of his projects are related to COBOL (considered as a “dead language” by some)

    U Kyaw Nyein (GBNF)

    • Taught Numeral Methods at the UCC courses.
    • Studied in the UK.
    • He was athletic and played Football and Volleyball.
    • He had a kidney problem.
    • His “Ah Nar Dei” attitude (to use the health fund provided by former colleagues) led to his demise.

    U Aung Hlaing

    • He is fondly known as Japan Sayagyi. His wife worked for the Foreign Ministry and was assigned to Japan. He accompanied her and worked as a COBOL programmer.
    • Saya U Soe Paing met him during his training (sponsored by JICA [Japan International Cooperating Agency] and implemented by Fujitsu and other Japanese computer companies. Saya asked him if he would like to join UCC upon his return to Burma.
    • He became one of the COBOL teachers.
    • He moved to Australia.

    U Soe Thein (GBNF)

    • Also known as Joe Thein
    • He had a disability, but that did not prevent him to have a good life and career. He completed training from ICL including COBOL programming.
    • He joined UCC as an “off-line” operator.
    • He transferred to the Application Division.
    • He became one of the COBOL teachers.

    Transfers

    • Some from Operations Division transferred to other divisions (e.g. Scientific Applications Division) and/or Teaching. They include U Myint Swe and U Soe Myint (GBNF).
    • Some transferred from other Government departments to UCC. They include U Win Myint (SLR) and U Tin Win.
    • Several student volunteers joined UCC after completing their M.Sc. and DAC courses. They include U Win Naing (GBNF), Daw Tin May Lwin and Daw Thin Thin Aung.
  • U Tin Swe

    He was wrongly called as U Tint Swe, U Tin Shwe and U Tin Shwe Gyi.

    He graduated in 1953. He joined EE Department as Assistant Lecturer.

    He received Masters from the University of Michigan, USA.

    Upon his return, he became a Lecturer.

    EE Sayas

    He was a member of the Prome Hall Soccer team which won the Inter-Hall Tournament for three consecutive years. He was a star player.

    Prome Hall Soccer

    He also played Tennis.

    He was a Power User at UCC. He supervised Ko Aung Kyaw Pe (EP69) for his Master’s thesis. He worked with Power Distribution & Analysis programs. He also collaborated with his former students including Dr. San Oo (EP67).

    In the early days, there were few Professorships. Hevpassed away before the creation of separate EC and EP Departments.

    U Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) wrote :

    I believe Saya’s brother was U Nan Wai (a famous painter).

  • Dr. Htay Lwin Nyo

    • He matriculated from SPHS in 1968.
    • He was admitted as Roll Number One to 1st BE.
    • He was selected RIT Luyechun.
    Luyechun
    • He graduated among the top of the EP74 class.
    • He studied Computer Science at UCC.
    • He received a Ph.D. in EE from Syaracuse University, New York.
    • He taught part-time at SJSU.
    • I had the honor to push the incinerator, and later to scatter the ashes in the ocean. I wrote about HLN’s Sea Burial for BAPS Newsletter and in the RIT Alumni International Newsletter and updates.
    • Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ, EC76) set up special web page for HLN. My poem “HTAY LWIN NYO” was also posted there.
    • There was no next-of-kin of HLN in the USA. KMZ remembered that Kyaw Swa Than (Jaws, UCC) was HLN’s cousin. The missing link was supplied by some alumni including Ko Ko Kyi (EC72).

    Ko Ko Kyi (EC72) wrote :

    Ko Hla Min, sad to read about Htay Lwin Nyo’s sea burial. I played a small part in notifying his first cousin Myo San Than in Toronto, when my brother called me from Birmingham, UK and informed me about HLN’s demise. Apparently, someone from California had contacted a friend of my brother’s and asked him to inform me, as he knew that HLN had a cousin living in Toronto. I informed HLN’s cousin Myo San Than, who called his elder brother living in Winnipeg, Canada. Subsequently, this cousin went to the US for HLN’s funeral. HLN was a good friend of mine, although he was two years my junior at RIT.


  • 40th Anniversary of UCC

    by Hla Min

    Updated : May 2025

    1971

    UCC was formally established in April, 1971.

    Saya Dr. Chit Swe (GBNF) was Founder Director.

    Dr. Chit Swe

    Saya U Soe Paing, Saya U Myo Min and Saya U Ko Ko Lay (GBNF) were the Managers of the Systems Division, Applications Division and Operations Division.

    U Soe Paing
    U Myo Min
    U Ko Ko Lay

    Reorganization

    After the reorganization, U Soe Paing managed the Operations and Systems Divisions. U Myo Min managed the Business Applications Division. U Ko Ko Lay managed the Scientific Applications Division.

    40th Anniversary

    The “40th Anniversary of UCC” in 2011 was the Reunion of Staff, Teachers (Past and Present) and Students.

    Daw Ngwe Tin, Aye Aye Myint and sisters, Maung Myint, who maintained the UCC building rooms were among the attendees.

    Saya Dr. Tin Maung (GBNF) was represented by his spouse and daughter.

    There was fun and laughter, music and dances, and good old memories.

    Daw Khin Lay Myint (GBNF) joined UCC as Secretary and then became an Administrator Officer.

    U Soe Myint (M72, GBNF) joined UCC as Operator. He served as Shift Lead, expert in Mechanical Drawing and AutoCAD, and retired as Pro-Rector of ICST. He came to see me during my last visit and shared his knowledge about U Lokanatha and Sayadaw’s financial support to buy the land for Kaba Aye Sun Lun Gu Kyaung. He gave me a “Chone Hte” (for monk). On the fateful day, he made two trips to the monastery, because he forgot his donation. He also visited his nephew and niece who had to have dialysis. May be because of his karma or because of the trips he tool that day, he passed away around 3 AM.

    U Soe Myint (3rd from Right)

    Khin Maung Zaw (KMZ) wrote :

    Ko Soe Myint Gyi was one of the very humble people I have ever known. He spoke very soft, never see him angry nor heard him raise his voice. Even though I am some years junior to him (he’s M72 and me EC76) he always treated me with dignity and respect. I really miss him, may his beautiful soul rest in peace.

  • Epilog (UCC)

    Computer Science (CS) and Computer Technology (CT) evolve.

    Definitions

    The following are two early definitions of CS.

    • CS is the study of phenomena surrounding Computing.
    • CS is the study of Algorithms and Data Structures.

    The first definition has the same flavor as a definition of Physics. It is general to say, “Physics is the study of natural phenomena.”

    The second definition might sound restrictive, but it still covers a lot of topics and application.

    There is a book called “Program = Algorithms + Data Structures”.

    Professor Donald Knuth (Stanford University) thought that he could finish his 7-volume book “The Art of Computer Programming” in a couple of years. It was an under-estimate of the growth of Computers, Computer Science and Applications. It took over two decades to complete and revise the first three volumes and part of the fourth volume. One reason was that his book contributed to the growth of the Design and Analysis of Algorithms.

    Final Thoughts

    I have covered some topics in the early days of Computing in general and UCC in particular.

    I missed out several people. I mentioned many names, but did not elaborate on some of them.

    I did not cover in-depth the PDP configuration and use, the introduction of PCs, and robots.

    It would take a long time and I would not be able to fill in all the blanks.

    I believe in an idea that characterizes Jules Verne. “If one can dream, others can fulfill”.

    I had a personal experience to support that idea. In 1999, I started “RIT International Newsletter” and dreamed that sayas and alumni will get reconnected electronically and physically. With the help of sponsors (including five Golden Sponsors), able and dedicated sayas and alumni, volunteers, supporters and well-wishers, the First RIT Grand Reunion and SPZP (Saya Pu Zaw Pwe) was held in San Francisco in October 2000. The world-wide SPZPs were subsequently held in Singapore in 2002, 2007 and 2010, and in Yangon in 2004, 2012 and 2016.

    Newsletter
    SPZP-2000 Organizers

    I had paid back to RIT.

    I now have a chance to pay back to UCC.

    Thanks to my family members for supporting me in the endeavors to pay back to the institutions and my mentors that helped me develop to where I am today.

    I hope that sayas and alumni of UCC, ICST and UCSY will enhance my document into one that professional historians will envy.

  • Dr. San Tint & U Shein Soe Myint

    Singapore 1

    Dr. San Tint (EE61, GBNF)

    • He was my saya at RIT.
    • He served as External Examiner for Computer Science students at UCC and DCS.

    U Shein Soe Myint (EC83, GBNF)

    • He is the son of Saya U Hla Myint (Eco Maths).
    • He is a classmate of U Thaung Tin (KMD) and my cousin nephew U Thar Hlaing (son of Saya Dr. F. Ba Hli).
    • 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.

    Group Photo

    It was taken at a mini-reunion of RIT and UCC alumni during my visit to Singapore.

  • UCC Gatherings

    Gathering at Saya U Soe Paing’s house

    Saya U Soe Paing (EE, UCC) and Daw Saw Yu Tint (T69) hosted several gatherings at their house. Most of them are to welcome UCC alumni visiting Yangon.

    Gathering at U Khin Zaw’s house

    U Soe Win (EC70, UCC) visited his younger brother U Khin Zaw (UCC) in Cupertino, California.

    Attendees include Saya U Myo Min (UCC), Dr. Rafiul Ahad (UCC), Benny Tan (M70), Charlie Tseng (EC70) and Diana (ChE71), U Myint Swe (EP74) and Daw San San (EC74), U Aung Zaw Maung (Pet78, UCC), U Aung Myint Oo (EC84, UCC)

    Mini-gathering in Singapore

    Saya Dr. San Tint (EE) and Saya U Shein Soe Myint (EC83, UCC) are GBNF.

  • KMZ

    KMZ

    St. Paul’s High School

    KMZ (Khin Maung Zaw) attended SPHS. After nationalization, SPHS was renamed as No. 6 Botathaung State High School. He matriculated in 1960.

    Old Paulians

    Rangoon Institute of Technology

    He graduated with B.E (EC) from RIT. He was from the Class of 76, but due to school closure, the Convocation took place in March 1977.

    RIT

    UCC

    He worked for the Systems Division at UCC before going to Singapore and the USA.

    UCC Old Timers

    Singapore

    KMZ in Singapore

    USA

    • He moved to Seattle, Washington.
    • He worked for Technology & Architecture Group at Nordstrom. He worked four days for 10 hours and had a three-day weekend.
    • He worked for Microsoft until retirement.
    • He visited the SF Bay Area to attend gatherings and meetings.
    With Sayas & Rafiul

    RIT Alumni International

    • He is a founding member and the lone member from outside the SF Bay Area.
    • He designed and implemented the ex-rit.org website.
    • He set up Special Pages for SPZP-2000.
    • He hosted us and took us to Oregon and Vancouver. The photo was taken at The Seattle Space Needle.
    Hosted us
    • He and U Min Maung (EP68) hosted Saya Dr. San Tint (GBNF).
    With Dr. San Tint in Seattle (2000)

    Friends

    Two Dudes
    With RIT classmates

    Gathering to welcome KMZ

    U Khin Zaw (UCC) and Daw Wai Wai Tun hosted a party to welcome KMZ and family.

    Attendees include

    • Saya U Myo Min (co-founder of UCC)
    • U Myint Swe (EP74) & Daw San San (EC74)
    • Maurice Chee (M75) and family
    • U Hla Kyi (EC77)
    • U Aung Myint Oo (EC84, UCC)
    • Dr. Rafiul Ahad (SPHS69, UCC) &spouse
    • Dr. Kyaw Tint
    • U Thein Naing (Patrick) & Daw Khin Myo Aung
    • U Hla Min (EC69, SPHS63, UCC) & spouse.

    U Thein Maung

    • He is a Literary Award Winner with the pen name Htin Lin.
    • He also gave private tuition for English with Saya U Khin Maung Latt.
    • He has four sons and a daughter.
    • The eldest U Soe Myint (GBNF) worked as Editor for WPD and later as Chief Editor at Guardian. His spouse Ada is the daughter of U Than Saw (Chief Editor of PWD). KMZ’s spouse is their daughter.
    • The younger brothers are U Soe Win (EC70, UCC, PTC), U Kyaw Zaw (EC72, DCA, GBNF) and U Khin Zaw (UCC).
    • KMZ’s son is named Htin Lin.
  • ICST/UCSY PZP

    • There have been six PZPs.
    • I attended the last two PZPs.
    PZP

    Acariya Pu Zaw Pwe

    PZP 1
    With San Yin Myint and San San Lwin

    Guest Lecture at UCSY

    UCSY 1
    UCSY 2

    UCSY Rector and Staff Members

    UCSY 3

    Saya Myar Nay Celebration

    PZP 3

    Photos shared by San Yin Myint

    PZP 4
    PZP 5
    PZP 6
    PZP 7
    PZP 8
    PZP 9
    PZP 10
    PZP 11
  • UCC Twins

    UCC Twins

    • Ma Nge and Judy are close friends.
    • Considered as “UCC Twins“
    • One guy supposedly approached the Twins and gave them both a copy of his “Yee Sar Sar”.
    • Both found their soul mates :
      Ko Myint Swe (for Ma Nge),
      Ko Myint Zaw (for Judy)

    Ma Nge

    Ma Nge 1
    • Nge Ma Ma Than (Ma Nge, Theresa Aung Than, GBNF)
      Attended MEHS and Rangoon University
    • Studied and taught at UCC
    • Spouse : U Myint Swe (UCC)
    Ma Nge 2
    • During the Adhamma Era, Ma Nge, her brother and Ko Myint Swe were detained by higher authorities. They became Prisoners of Conscience.
    • Despite having medical problems, Ma Nge has a strong will, and showed metta and karuna to her fellow prisoners (even in her final days).
    Ma Nge 3
    • Father : U Aung Than
    • Uncles : Arzani U Ba Win, Bogyoke Aung San
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1156.jpg

    Nwe Nwe Win

    • Also known as Judy
    • Represented RASU in Track and Field
    • At UCC, she was often the sixth player of the men’s volley ball team.
    • Taught at UCC, DCS, and ICST.
      Traveled overseas for studies, training and conferences.
    Judy & Sweetie
    • Judy found her soul mate Myint Zaw, who takes care of his “Ah Ma Gyi”.
    • Retired after heading the Department of Computer Science at RASU
    • Young ones would address her as “Ah Ma Gyi” and “Teacher”
    • Still looks young (especially when attending conferences)

    Comments

    U Khin Maung Zaw wrote :

    Those good old halcyon days!!!!!!
    There actually was the third member, three musketeers if you will, who used to hang out together in the very early days of UCC. She is Sweetie Tin Moe We [UN Retiree].