THE 2019 Conference on Implementing Development of Universities was held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

In her speech, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said, “The government is fully and consistently implementing policies and projects that are appropriate with and essential for building a democratic federal union from various sectors. In this regard, it is required to develop outstanding experts and technicians who are the human resources of the country. Development of human resources, including the young generation, is a vital need for the future of the country. They will have to perform state duties in the future. Therefore, the government is striving for harmonious development of basic and higher education, and for promoting the country’s education up to the international level.”

She added, “The Ministry of Education is implementing the National Education Strategy (2016-2021) for the emergence of quality education in the country. In this aspect, education conferences are aimed to support this sector. The ministry is carrying out the plans adopted from the 11 papers submitted in the education conference last year.”

A total of 16 papers on higher education sector and related fields have been submitted to identify the prioritized plan for implementation in 2019-2020.

She also said that these papers were good enough to develop future plans that could bring in fruitful results.

The State Counsellor remarked that education was a lifelong process, and that it was a necessary investment for socioeconomic development of the country, and added that human resource was very important for the development of the country in the 21st century.

She added, “The government will encourage research works, inventions and vocational training courses in developing the country’s education up to the global standard. Quality assurance will be required in the development of national education.

This system can upgrade national education level and learning process. It is also required to focus on promoting the quality of technicians, academic management, and the leaders of schools, training centers and universities.”

She also said that research works were very crucial for the higher education sector. Teachers and students of higher education need to do their research works consistently in their respective subjects. Findings from these woks should be useful for economic, social, physical and mental developments. The research works and projects should be qualitative, rather than quantitative.

She also urged to prioritize subjects and topics which were appropriate for the requirements of the country, and she also reiterated the need for assistance of private sector in research works.

The State Counsellor continued, “The higher education
sector has a role not only to support socioeconomic development of the country, but also to nurture decent citizens and global people who have humane attitude. The sector also needs to generate human resources which were necessary for business organizations and industries and which have the qualities of wisdom and good attitude. Only decent citizens could build up a peaceful and united country. These people would eventually become citizens of a humane global society.”

She also suggested that the students need to be trained for multi-sectoral developments inside or outside the classrooms without limiting their learning only in the classroom, instead they should be trained to be in sync with their environment, region and country.

In order to create good learning environments, she also advised to encourage the young persons for improving their reading habits, and also to organize literary contests, literary talks and sport competitions. She said it was necessary to work towards training and producing young persons with nationalistic spirit, who value and practice respect for human rights in accordance with good citizenship and democratic practices. The State Counsellor suggested technological and vocational subjects were crucial for implementing pragmatic education reforms. Likewise, it was important to preserve languages, cultures and customs of ethnic people, and to support these works. As development of each region was fundamental to the prosperity of whole country, the education development programme must be effectively implemented in respect of regional resources.

She also stressed the importance of a new generation of dynamic and intelligent youths which could play a pivotal role for multi-sectoral development of the country, internal peace, building a genuine union and a democratic federal union. In this regard, a quality education could generate such valuable human resources.

She also expressed that the 2019 Conference on Implementing Development of Universities could find ways to implement a quality education that was necessary for the country, and advised the results from the conference could be helpful to wipe out dis-parity and instability, and to work for the rule of law, justice, peace and freedom.

The State Counsellor emphasized the need of collaborative efforts, rather than the popular notion of leadership training, in all sectors, including politics and education. Only these collaborative efforts could turn out success. Many conferences on leadership role were noticed at home and abroad, with the emphasis on the leadership role.

She also remarked that it become popular to match the term ‘leader’ with the words of young, women, ethnic, political and economic, and then asked about the role of the ‘follower’.

The State Counsellor highlighted the essence of ‘teamwork’, and the value of leaders who can really lead the team with their genuine capacities for this role to benefit the country and people.

The State Counsellor urged for development of collaborative attitude without concentrating on a single leadership role to correct personal deficiencies and to use one’s good qualities for the benefits of others.

She finally advised all the participants to focus the conference on the sense of collaborative attitude, rather than personal or organizational leadership role.

Then, Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi presented a detailed briefing about multisectoral development programmes at the universities, followed by a presentation by Dr Zaw Wai Soe, chairman of Myanmar Rectors’ Committee, on their coordination with universities.

Then documentary photos of the State Counsellor together with senior officials were taken.

During the conference, the following papers were presented: Country Director Dr Richard Sunderland from the Myanmar British Council read out his paper ‘National Institute for Higher Education Development (NIHED) project’, Senior Program Manager Mr.Oleksandr Shtokvych from the Central European University ‘Towards University Autonomy in Myanmar: Policies, Planning and Implementation’, Retired Rector Dr Htin Zaw Soe from the University of Community Health (Magway) ‘Completion of Myanmar Universities’ Research Conference 2019, Its Advantages and Disadvantages’, Rector Dr Soe Win from Monywa University of Economics ‘Financial System and Development at Myanmar Universities’, Director General Dr Thein Win from the Department Higher Education ‘Wide-spread Use of e-payment System at Universities, Degree Colleges and Colleges’, Rector Dr Mie Mie Thet Thwin from University of Computer Studies, Yangon ‘Processes and Coordination of ICT Working Committee’, Rector Saw Pyone Naing from Sagaing University of Education ‘Extending Two-Year Courses to Four-Year Education Specialization Degrees at the Universities of Education’, Rector Dr Kyi Shwin from the University of Foreign Languages ‘Good Practice Guidelines of University Governance and Management’, Deputy Rector Dr Aung Naing Soe of Mandalay University of Distance ‘Reform of UDE Intensive Courses’, and Associated Professor Dr Myo Min from Chemistry Department of University of West Yangon ‘Social Problems of Teachers in Higher Education Sector and Solving Ways’.

The event was attended Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Lt-Gen Sein Win, Lt-Gen Ye Aung, U Kyaw Tint Swe, Thura U Aung Ko, U Thant Sin Maung, U Thein Swe, Dr Myo Thein Gyi, Union Auditor General U Maw Than, Chairman of Union Civil Service Board U Win Thein, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council Dr Myo Aung, Deputy Minister U Win Maw Tun, chairman of National Education Commission, permanent secretaries, directors general, rectors, deputy rectors, professors, headmasters/mistresses, responsible officials from the Myanmar Academy of Arts and Science, and National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee, authors of research paper, teacher and student representatives from University Unions, officials and invited guests.

The conference will continue on 17 October, and the eight authors will present the eight papers for the multi-sectoral development of Myanmar universities.

There are 174 universities under the management of eight ministries, and 164 universities are the members of Myanmar Rectors’ Committee.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar