Blog

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.

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.