Yangon University

History

Founded originally as an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta in 1878, Rangoon College was established under British rule. Its name changed to Government College in the early 1900s and then again in 1920 to University College. In that same year, the secular University College merged with the Baptist-affiliated Judson College to become Rangoon University. Judson Baptist church, in memory of Adoniram Judson an early nineteenth century American missionary who wrote the first Burmese – English dictionary, is still situated on the campus. All subsequent institutions of higher learning founded by the British were under Rangoon University’s administration until 1958, when Mandalay College became an independent university. Rangoon University became one of the most prestigious universities in Southeast Asia, attracting students from across the region.

During the Second World War the Japanese army took over the University and used the buildings for their offices.
Myanmar gained independence from British rule in 1948 and this was a golden period for Rangoon University, until the military coup in 1962.
The 1964 University Education Act separated several professional departments from the university, establishing them as separate universities: the University of Medicine, the University of Economics, the University of Technology, and the University of Education. At that point, the university was renamed Rangoon Arts and Sciences University, concerned only with liberal arts, sciences and law. In 1989, the university was renamed University of Yangon. Students from Rangoon University protested against British colonial rule and the Rangoon Act of the University of Rangoon in 1920. This strike started at the university and roused countrywide awareness of national identity and opposition to British colonial policies. Myanmar National Day commemorates the 1920 student strike at Rangoon University. Further nationwide anti-colonial strikes followed in 1936 and 1938, all beginning at the university. On 4 January 1948 Burma became an independent country, thanks in part to student-led actions.

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