On 10 April 2018, the Consul-General of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Chiang Mai Mr. Kuang San Lwin visited MFU to meet MFU President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vanchai Sirichana and delivered the opening speech for the Myanmar Cultural Day and Exhibition.
In the meeting, the Consul-General Mr. Kuang San Lwin and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vanchai discussed cooperation and scholarship possibilities between MFU and Myanmar. MFU offered scholarships for Myanmar students in Kyaing Tong Township and also purposed holding a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for improving access to health care services to people in the nearby regions. The CSR project will start in Kyaing Tong Township by offering projects based on the Princess Mother’s health-promoting mobile medical units and dental service projects.
After the meeting, the Consul-General attended the Myanmar Cultural Day and Exhibition held by the Myanmar Student Union at L-Park area, M-Square. This annual event was specially held with the purpose to raise the understanding and the awareness of Myanmar history and culture as well as to connect all Myanmar, Thai and international students by joining in the celebration of Myanmar’s culture.
In the welcoming speech, MFU Vice President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chayaporn Wattanasiri stated that MFU has put a high priority on and has made it a norm for all students to appreciate diverse cultures within ASEAN. By initiating and organizing the event together, students had a chance to learn how to work and interact with friends from different backgrounds. Moreover, their enthusiastic participation contributed greatly to the international learning environment at MFU.
This semester, MFU has welcomed 146 Myanmar students including 130 bachelor’s degree students and 16 master’s degree students who are now studying at MFU in various fields. In addition, MFU has provided scholarships for Myanmar students with the intentions to promote human resources for developing the region and to promote the international atmosphere at MFU.
This year, Myanmar Cultural Day was held under the theme “Exhibition of the Bagan Kingdom and the Cultural Variety Concert.” The Bagan dynasty is the first dynasty in the history of Myanmar. It is said that the Bagan dynasty was founded under King Anawrahta in the middle of the 11th century. At the height of empire’s power between the 11th and 13th century more than 10,000 temples and pagodas were built. Today, about 2,200 monuments including temples, stupas and pagodas remain in various states of repair, which makes Bagan a unique wonder to behold.
On the whole, Thai students and students from various countries learned and understood what Myanmar people eat and how they dress via Myanmar foods and performances including Pa Tein Htee Dance (A Hla Kabar ), Shan Ethnic Dance, Se Mee Dance, Myanmar Ethnic Show and Da Pin Daing Dance. Furthermore, the information pertaining to Myanmar ethnic groups and interesting religious places, festivals and dishes in the exhibition section helped students learn about Myanmar’s beautiful culture and amazing ways of life.
