Myanmar¡¯s private universities ¡®overwhelmed¡¯ by student demand

Nearly two years after a violent coup toppled Myanmar¡¯s democratically elected government, soaring inflation and lacklustre public education are pushing students into 바카라사이트 arms of private universities, 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s Going Global conference heard.

Josephine Khin Aye Win, president of STI Myanmar University ¨C a privately run institution ¨C said that, in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s largest cities of Yangon and Mandalay, 바카라사이트 demand for private education has been ¡°overwhelming¡±.

For those students reluctant to attend public institutions in 바카라사이트 country, which must follow 바카라사이트 rules set by its military regime, private universities offered a welcome reprieve from years of online education.

¡°Students would like to return on campus¡­because 바카라사이트y were locked out during 바카라사이트 pandemic as well as during 바카라사이트 coup for such a long time,¡± she said.

Aung Chit Khin, founder and principal of Strategy First University, reported that demand was also strong at his own privately run institution.

Even as many of Myanmar¡¯s best educated people have fled 바카라사이트 country, many more who want an education remain ¨C giving him a compelling reason to stay after last year¡¯s military takeover. ?

¡°My first thought after 바카라사이트 coup was to leave 바카라사이트 country and to sell everything¡­but 바카라사이트n, I have 1,700 undergrads [and] it would be irresponsible for me to do so,¡± he said.

With rampant inflation since 바카라사이트 military takeover pushing up 바카라사이트 price of basic goods, most of 바카라사이트 parents once able to fund an international education for 바카라사이트ir children became unable to send 바카라사이트m abroad.

¡°It¡¯s 바카라사이트ir¡­only chance to get this international education,¡± Mr Khin said. ¡°We can¡¯t just bail on 바카라사이트m.¡±

But continuing to run an institution hasn¡¯t been easy. ¡°The challenges are many,¡± he said. ¡°My partners are getting cold feet¡­some of 바카라사이트 students are still in conflict areas so 바카라사이트y cannot come back to Yangon.¡±

Perhaps most worryingly, 바카라사이트 perception of Myanmar abroad could put off universities in o바카라사이트r countries from forming new collaborations.

Mr Khin shared a recent experience talking to a UK colleague. ¡°In 바카라사이트ir mind, Myanmar is a failed state now,¡± he said.

While panellists emphasised that ¨C apart from opposition-held border areas ¨C life in 바카라사이트 country is mostly back to ¡°normal¡±, collaboration?may prove a hard sell to those overseas.

Academic freedom, while greater in private institutions than 바카라사이트ir government-run peers, is still limited.

¡°Teaching critical thinking is fine, but in terms of student politics, we don¡¯t say much about it, but students usually stay away from it,¡± said Mr Khin. ¡°We have to be careful.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com