10 - Building a Knowledge Society through Library Education in Myanmar

Summary

In recent years Myanmar has seen great changes in society, politics and economics. The opportunities presented to the people of Myanmar as it emerges to engage with the rest of the world have been extraordinary. Like a chrysalis Myanmar is transitioning from what has been a constrained and tightly controlled society and is now emerging into a new, more expansive world. Such transitions always present challenges and extend opportunities. Education is often a critical element in the success of these transitions.

Education is fundamental and integral to many of the changes which are occurring in Myanmar – both in its capacity to increase knowledge that is relevant to all aspects of life and also to allow Myanmar to engage with the wider world. The individuals experiencing this transformation within the higher education sector need to have access to the principles and research insights from scholarship outside Myanmar to successfully develop policy, science, law, agriculture, library science, health, medicine, economics and other disciplines. Providing open and professionally constructed access to such knowledge underpins the principles which guide the library and information professions around the world.

Library and information studies is a fundamental part of this education revolution and the education and training of qualified library and information professionals has been viewed internationally as a critical element in information access. Education for this discipline was established in Myanmar at the University of Yangon in the 1971 at the height of the development of schools of librarianship worldwide. As with much tertiary education in former British colonies and Commonwealth countries the model adopted was that of British education (see Carroll 2013) with both undergraduate and postgraduate professional entry. This remains the prevailing model. First led by U Thaw Kaung, Chief Librarian of the Universities’ Central Library, until 1997 the courses evolved primarily on a print-based culture (University of Yangon 2018). The University is a leader in library studies in Myanmar, consistent with its role as the premier research university in the country. The Department of Library and Information Studies has expanded in 2019 to include eighteen academics, supporting students studying undergraduate and postgraduate, including Masters and PhD, programs. The Department is the largest library education department in Myanmar.