CONTINUING THE PROUD TRADITIONS INTO THE NEW CENTURY

Historical Background

The University of Yangon is one of the historic places of Yangon. Located on a large plot of land measuring 200 acres on the banks of the Inya Lake, the Yangon University Campus is bounded by Pyay Road, University Avenue and Inya Road. Originally, this land was a densely forested but a very scenic area beside the Inya Lake. It is a peaceful and tranquil place with the right atmosphere to induce high academic achievements. Even now the campus is a green oasis with towering trees and beautiful flowering shrubs, singing birds and darting butterflies. Lecture halls, students' hostels and senior houses of staff's stand inside landscaped gardens and students stroll along shaded tree-lined walk ways.

During the early years of the British colonial rule, the University was first set up as an affiliated college of Calcutta University (now Kolkota). But by the year 1878, Intermediate of Science and Arts level courses were given by staff members of the College whom were recognized by the London University.    The Yangon University Act of 1920 was later promulgated and established Yangon University as the only University in Myanmar .It has since become the paramount centre of higher education in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

After the country's Independence, the original Act was amended in 1949. Under this new Act the University of Yangon was composed of the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Law the Faculty of Forestry, the, Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Agriculture. The government promulgated a new Myanmar University Law and introduced a new system of education in 1964.  University of Yangon was transformed into a centre of learning in the fields of arts, science, social science and humanities. The other vocational faculties became separate and independent degree-conferring institutions.

Present Day University of Yangon

In 1999 University of Yangon was reorganized as the centre for post-graduate studies in Myanmar. Credits and semester system were introduced for each academic year with the aim to attain the highest national and international educational standards. An academic year has two semesters. The first semester is from June to September and the second is from December to March. Master of Research (M. Res) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) degrees, in both the Arts and Science subjects, are now awarded to successful and outstanding students.

The University of Yangon is headed by a Rector, who is responsible for both the academic and administrative functions of the institution and accountable to the Department of Higher Education (Lower Myanmar) under the Ministry of Education. There are also three Pro-Rectors who act as his deputies. A Senate, composed of Professors/Heads of Departments of the teaching departments, is responsible for maintaining the highest standard of academic education for the students, reviewing the results and making necessary recommendations. Administrative matters are coordinated by the Administrative Board chaired by the Rector.

Every academic department has two Professors, with one as ex-officio Head of Department, and four Associate Professors plus lecturers, assistant lecturers, demonstrators/ tutors as necessary. University of Yangon has 20 teaching Departments.

The Teaching Departments are:

1. Anthropology
2. Archaeology
3. Botany
4. Chemistry
5. Computer Science
6. English
7. Geography
8. Geology
9. History
10. Industrial Chemistry
11. International Relations
12. Law
13. Library& Information Studies
14. Mathematics
15. Myanmar
16. Oriental Studies
17. Philosophy
18. Physics
19. Psychology
20. Zoology

With the introduction of the new scheme of reorganization to become the University as a unique centre for post graduate studies, it was able to confer the first Ph.D degree in 1997.