Rebuilding Higher Education in Myanmar: New Briefing Paper

A new IIE briefing paper, Investing in the Future: Rebuilding Higher Education in Myanmar, presents findings from a recent IIE delegation and includes observations on the context of higher education in Myanmar, an analysis of needs facing the sector, and recommendations to support partnerships and academic exchanges. The report is intended to provide policy makers, foundations, private sector corporations, and higher education professionals with an overview of potential areas for engagement; and will help facilitate the timely implementation of much-needed higher education capacity building activities that will be critical for the next phase of Myanmar’s economic development.

The report was released and discussed at a bi-national conference call co-hosted by IIE and the EducationUSA advising network on April 12 to discuss higher education cooperation between the U.S. and Myanmar. IIE President Allan Goodman moderated the discussion, and representatives of 50 U.S. colleges and universities called in to take part. 

Speakers included U Than Swe, Ambassador of the Union of the Republic of Myanmar in the U.S.; Meghann Curtis, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Academic Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Greg Beck, Deputy Assistant Administrator of Asia, USAID, and others.

During the call, educators and government representatives discussed some practical ways to engage faculty, connect with Myanmar universities, and begin to bring U.S. students to the country. Representatives of EducationUSA, the U.S. Embassy and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs provided guidance and discussed new Fulbright Scholar opportunities to enable U.S. faculty members to go to Myanmar, and several universities discussed their current plans to visit the country. IIE discussed preliminary plans for a new initiative to train university administers to help them develop international relations offices so they can better engage with higher education in other countries.

You can listen to a recording of the call and download the recent IIE report on IE's Myanmar call page.