Reimagining education and student activism in Myanmar/Burma

The Feb 2021 coup has disrupted the academic journeys of hundreds of thousands of higher education students. Some estimates suggest that 60% of higher education students are not attending universities or colleges. For many students, returning to their universities means submitting to the military, which has a history of detonating student unions, relocating campuses to the outskirts of cities, downgrading higher education through short term courses, and treating students as potential rebels. However, being away from classrooms doesn’t mean being disconnected from learning. Many students are making valuable contributions to society using their newly acquired medical knowledge and skills. They are providing hope to children, especially in ethnic areas, through voluntary teaching, upgrading weaponry for nascent people’s defense forces with their engineering skills, and reintroducing local artistry and craftsmanship in refugee camps. Educators now face the challenge of catching up. Traditionally, we prepare students for a set period of time in confined spaces and then see them venture into the world. Now, Burmese students are out in the real world, experimenting with various things. The question is, how can we connect learning with their experiential living and service to communities? How can we flip teaching and learning? I am going to outline how the Burmese students’ experiences could provide insights into education, and how we, as educators and educational institutions, could reimagine ourselves to serve populations that are mobile, displaced, or lack the privileges to come to our classrooms. Additionally, I will highlight what student activism means for Burmese students inside and outside Burma.

Tharaphi Than is Associate Professor at Northern Illinois University. Her research interests include women, feminism, social movements, and print media. She also works pro-bono for Virtual Federal University, an alternative education platform that provides a portal for alternative teaching and learning for faculty and students who refuse to cooperate with the Myanmar junta.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023
12:00 Noon
Room 203, Luce Hall
34 Hillhouse Avenue

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