Parami Institute of Liberal Arts & Sciences Annual Report 2017 Table of Contents

Executive Director’s Letter 1

Timeline 2

2017 Impact 3

Parami Leadership Program 5

Parami Talk Series 13

Evening Classes 17

Future of Parami 19

Finances 20

Donors 21

Staff 22 Executive Director’s Letter

Dear Parami supporters,

The most common question I am asked is ‘Why are you doing this?’ to which I always give the same answer: ‘I want to create and share educational opportunities similar to those that I once fortunately received in college.’ Behind my crafted answer lies an understanding commonly shared among many young repatriates who have studied abroad. We know that we are the lucky few who have had a chance to earn a high quality education abroad, usually because of our family’s f nancial capital, social capital or a combination of both. The majority of Myanmar youths across the country have not even dreamed of receiving such an opportunity. If we, the lucky few, do not create educational opportunities for Myanmar’s youths, then who will? I set foot on the rewarding journey of helping to shape the future of education in Myanmar soon after I defended my dissertation at Yale University in 2014. Not once have I regretted my choice.

This journey would have been very rough had there not been strong f nancial and in-kind supporters. I am truly grateful for the generosity and faith of several foundations, such as Child’s Dream, Brighter Future Myanmar, B.K. Kee Foundation and City Love & Hope Foundation. I am professionally and personally indebted to supporters such as Mr. Hitoshi Ikeya and Ms. Abby Pratt, who never expected anything back in return for their giving. In addition, I would very much like to give thanks to our in-kind supporters, such as Myanmar Net, Mangosteen Public Relations, City FM Radio Station and for their continued support of Parami Institute.

International and local academic institutional supporters have offered us great advice as well, including Bard College, Ashoka University, Centre College, Yale-NUS College, Thabyay, Cetana and Mote Oo. Bard College, in particular, has played an instrumental role in lending immense credibility to our initiatives; the President of Bard College is committed to awarding Bard bachelor’s degrees to graduates of Parami University, expected to open in 2020. U Ba Win and Dr. Ian Bickford, Vice Presidents of Bard College, have been invaluable mentors regarding strategic activities at Parami Institute. Our advisory board members are also deeply committed to Parami’s success and have contributed concrete suggestions to our strategic step-by-step actions. Last but not least, I am truly thankful to a great team of faculty members and staff, who are very dedicated to the students’ excellence and well-being.

Parami Institute off cially turned one-year-old on January 9, 2018! Last year was a great success. For this year, I am excited to develop new commitments and achieve projected milestones towards our goal of making quality education accessible to those who have a will to learn and achieve excellence. Will you join me in pursuing our shared values and endeavors to create a better future for Myanmar and our world?

Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun Executive Director of Parami Institute

1 Timeline 2017 Impact

January 7, 2017 January 9, 2017 January 27, 2017 May 27, 2017 Parami Institute holds The institute welcomes Parami Institute invites A graduation ceremony its opening ceremony its frst PLP cohort. Of Daw Thet Thet Khine, is held for the frst 2 32 17 on January 7. U Ba Win, the 17 participants, 53% donor and the Dagon PLP cohort in May. Number of PLP Future Leaders Female Students advisory board member are on full scholarship Township member of U Nay Oke, advisory and vice president of and 29% are female parliament, as the frst board member and Cohorts (PLP) (PLP) Bard College, gives a students. Students Parami Talk Series founder of Institute of speech at the ceremony. participate in a writing (PTS) speaker. English, delivers the and thinking workshop commencement speech. led by Dr. Joan DelPlato from Bard College at Simon’s Rock. 20 2 20 Full Scholarships Partial Scholarships Living Stipends June 15, 2017 August 1, 2017 August 14, 2017 December 30, 2017 (PLP) (PLP) (PLP) The insitute begins to Parami Institute rents Parami welcomes Parami Institute holds a offer evening classes for another offce space PLP second cohort, graduation ceremony for working professionals. in Yuzana Tower for as well as fve new the second PLP cohort. The frst class—“Skills evening classes and faculty members: Vicky Bowman, advisory for Complex Problem administrative staff. Michael Dunford, board member and Solving”—is taught by Dr. Carol Fujimura, director of the Myanmar Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun and Andrey Tolstoy, Vincent Centre for Responsible U Win Yu. Autexier, Joe Decker Business, delivers the and Alina Sidorova. commencement speech. This time around, 80% of the participants are women; 73% are on 50% 3 11 full scholarship.* Minority Students* Evening Classes Parami Talk Series Events

* A second cohort student who received full scholarship was not able to complete the PLP program. He has not been included in the fnal fgures, including the number of full scholarships and living stipends awarded to students. * This fgure includes non-Bamar and mixed ethnic students. 3 Parami Leadership Program

Parami Leadership Program (PLP) is designed to provide current students and graduates of Myanmar universities with an intensive introduction to the liberal arts and sciences. The semester-long program selects 16 to 18 outstanding candidates from across the country’s socioeconomic and cultural spectrum.

Academics Interpersonal Skills Community

In line with a liberal arts and PLP students are encouraged to As participants of the program, sciences education, PLP build life-long relationships with PLP students automatically join engages students in a wide their peers, and to listen and a wider network of academics, breadth of subjects such as the collaborate with each other in a professionals and change humanities, social sciences, thoughtful and respectful manner. agents in Myanmar and natural sciences and the arts. Students work within teams on abroad. PLP students are given Faculty members nurture three various research projects and opportunities to connect with major skills—critical thinking, group presentations throughout CEOs, senior-level executives, the semester. activists, government offcials interdisciplinary analysis and and researchers through group articulate communication— feld trips, weekly guest speaker using a curriculum developed series and our monthly Parami among the professors. Talk Series.

5 From Our Students

Our PLP students come from various educational, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Throughout the semester, they work closely with each other in and outside of the classroom on activites ranging from group presentations to week-long feld trips.

May Thant Cynn in terms of [health] education and development. it’s fast, sometimes it’s very sweet, and sometimes experience in many situations. In Kalaw, education B.A. English, University; [But] one or two villages that were quite close to it’s kind of like...dangerous. We go deeply into and language. [In Yangon], child labor. We also B.B.M. (Northampton University), Myanmar the town, I saw some kind of development. They our feelings and we fnd a way to express it again wrote a lot of research papers. When we bring Imperial College have some kind of clinic, medical offcers, and into words. I don’t really care about the grammar everything together, I can defnitely apply it in my infrastructure. We also learned how traditional because I just want to write down what I feel right future career.” “The most amazing thing is that I got to meet people medicine is still used by the villagers [along with] now, what I think right now. It makes me more open from every part of the country. If I didn’t come here, Western medicine.” to myself.” Thu Zar Linn I wouldn’t know people of my age from different B.A. English Candidate, Dagon University parts of the country like Shan State, Chin State Zwe Pyae Yan Naung Myint [and] Bago. When I got together with all these “[The career workshop] was really helpful and I am B.E. Electrical Engineering, Myanmar Maritime B.E. Civil Engineering, Technological University people from all over the country, I got to learn their glad that [Parami Institute] helped me. Ko Win Yu University of Pakokku goals, dreams, ambitions, and how they paved their taught me how to write a cover letter and resume, way to work towards their goals.” “[Anna and I] started the flm club. The mission of “During the Kalaw trip, we stayed in Palaung village. and then [Gems] edited it. At frst, I was like, ‘How the club is to share flms outside of the mainstream, Actually there was no shower room for men. So many times are you going to edit it? One time, two Ei Phyu Kyaw and if we have enough time to prepare, we invite Joe, Zwe and I went to a place where we could times, three times?’ And then I realized it was really B.A. English, Mandalay University of Distant independent flmmakers to show their flms take a bath. It was in the forest. We thought that important not to have a mistake on a cover letter or Education or documentaries. We’ve invited three people. there would be no one and we took a bath freely CV. I’m really glad that I got the opportunity to learn [One flmmaker] is Aung Phyo. He is a Burmese and at that time some women were crossing and how to do such professional writing.” “Our teacher Mike took us to do research for a flmmaker and he lives in India, but last year, he the women were really [embarrassed]. That night, topic like handicraft or hondi system. I asked [shop came back and shot flms in Myanmar. And this Joe, Zwe and I wrote a poem: ‘Taking a Bath in the Phyo Wai Oo owners], ‘Where do those products come from? was the frst time that he showed his flm and it Public Place.’ ” B.E. Aerospace, Myanmar Aerospace Why did you [start] this handicraft shop?’ You happened at Parami Institute.” Engineering University, Meik Hti Lar cannot get a lot of profts from [selling] them, you Khawm Pil see. So we like to know that. I had never taken “Before we went [to Kalaw], we made a list of Lawoon Yan B.A. English, Dagon University special notice of the environment around me before. questions. Some of the questions were like, B.A. English, Mandalay University; But now, I am [observing] everything around me “Maybe we’re in the same ethnic group or religion, What do you mean ‘technology’? When we say M.B.A. Monywa University and I am even taking a bus because I realized this but we come from different backgrounds. Other ‘technology,’ what do you think about that? Because is also a good way to learn.” “When I was a student at Parami Institute, [students] were raised from a scholar or business people here [often] think that technology is [solely] economics was my favorite class. We read the family. So our opinions contradict. There are times related to electronic products. Their cellphone— Khaing Zin Win material in advance, and when we got to class, we when I think, ‘Oh, we can also think that way.’ ” they think that’s technology. [But] technology can B.A. English for Professional Purposes, were ready to discuss that topic—whether it was be a system that you use for the development National Management College; Diploma in Zimbabwe’s infation problem or Frederick Taylor’s Nan Aye Aye Mon of the area. Rural development, medicine English Language Teaching, Yangon University scientifc management theory. This practice of B.A. Education and Psychology, Asia-Pacifc technology—that’s what we were going to explore.” analytical thinking has helped me at work where I International University in Muak Lek, Thailand “I was in the health and medicine team [in Kalaw]. analyze different businesses and their strategies.” We tried to interview people from all walks of “It will take time to realize that what you have life. Most of them were farmers. Some of the learned is valuable; you don’t know unless you Anna Biak Tha Mawi interviewees were midwives, teachers, young go to work frst. [But] I learned… For example, I B.A.R.S. English, Myanmar Institute of Theology adults, and children. We learned how medical am a teacher and I learned how the teachers here practices have changed over 70 years—from the “In the previous classes, Andrey played music operate the program and moderate the students. year that Myanmar gained independence up to and we had to feel it and write down whatever we I am also going to apply for my Master’s studies this date. We learned that they still have diffculties wanted. Sometimes the music is slow, sometimes so I also learned how to do research and [gained] 7 “Parami Leadership Program classes empower you to think more and com- municate your ideas to others. In that way, we don’t just learn theories and phenomena; we also learn to think of the wider impact of these ideas in social and political landscapes.”

- Sai Khay Hseng, PLP Graduate

9 Faculty (Former and Current)

Faculty members collaborate to design a curriculum in which the content of each class helps enrich the content of another. Instructors closely mentor the cohort, ensuring that each student receives ample attention and guidance.

Dr. Will Buckingham of Yangon. Their chartering of the Myanmar founder of Parami Institute. His doctoral research Whitney Huntley Ph.D. Philsophy, University of Staffordshire Foundation for Analytic Education in 2001 has culminated in the industrial development of an M.A. International Relations, University of New enabled funding of the Pre-Collegiate Program Alzheimer’s therapeutic (-)-huperzine A. Before South Wales Dr. Will Buckingham has been a Reader in Writing of Yangon, which has educated many Myanmar Parami, he taught science at the Pre-Collegiate and Creativity at De Montfort University, UK and Whitney Huntley has worked in Southeast Asia youths from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Program of Yangon. a visiting professor at Sichuan University, China. since 2012 on a number of educational and legal His work evolves around unexpected crossings research projects. Ms. Huntley completed an M.A. Dr. Christina Hans Andrey Tolstoy between philosophy and stories. in International Relations at the University of New Ph.D. Finance, Universitat Pompeu Fabra Ph.D. Candidate, Film and Media Studies and South Wales in Sydney, Australia and earned her Comparative Literature, Yale University Michael Dunford Dr. Christina Hans completed a Ph.D. in Finance B.A. in Political Science and Gender Studies from M.A. Southeast Asian Studies, University of with highest honors under the supervision of Andrey Tolstoy is in the fnal year of his joint Ph.D. the University of Victoria, Canada. Her research Wisconsin-Madison Jose-Luis Peydro and Christian Brownlees at program at Yale University. He is currently writing interests include environmental conservation policy, University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona. Her research a dissertation about the phenomenon of going women’s governance of natural resources and In the past, Michael Dunford has worked as part of focused on network structures in the fnancial “off-the-grid” in flm, literature and philosophy. Since constitutional reform in Myanmar. the communications team at CGIAR’s Water, Land system and their implications for systemic risk. 2003, he has been working as a translator and and Ecosystems (WLE) research program, during She has extensive teaching experience in different editor for various media projects in Eastern Europe Alina Sidorova which time he edited and published a wide range universities and business schools in Spain such as and Central Asia. B.A. Political Science, Yale University of blogs and and press releases on issues related ESADE Business School and Universitat Pompeu to sustainable agriculture and political ecology. He As a student at Yale, Alina conducted original feld Fabra. She also worked on consulting projects on Vincent Autexier holds a Masters degree in Southeast Asian studies research on the experiences of migrants from the topics such as price-setting behavior of frms and B.Sc. (Hons) Applied Science, University of from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where confict zone in Eastern Ukraine. Her thesis on the determinants of sales productivity. Central Lancashire he also worked as a teaching assistant in the subject won the Charles Washburn Clark Prize for Department of Anthropology. After obtaining his Physical Measurements License the best senior essay on Comparative Politics. She Dr. Stan Jagger Degree at the University of Montpellier in 2012, worked for EF Education First in Hong Kong and Ph.D. International Relations, Dr. Carol Fujimura Vincent Autexier studied applied physics at the was a founding member of the New Haven chapter University of Waikato Ph.D. Interdisciplinary Studies, University of University of Central Lancashire in Preston. Before of the educational initiative CityStep. Before coming California, Santa Barbara Dr. Stan Jagger has over ten years of university joining Parami Institute, he worked as an Industrial to Parami Institute, Alina worked for an enterprise teaching experience including lecturing and tutoring Applications and Development Engineer at EDF search company in San Francisco. Dr. Carol Fujimura earned her Ph.D. from the papers in international relations, humanitarian law Energies Nouvelles in Colombiers. University of California Santa Barbara with an and academic study skills. During the last four emphasis in Interdisciplinary Studies from the years, he has undertaken periods of feld work in Joseph Decker Department of Religious Studies. She also received and on the borders of Myanmar for his doctoral B.A. English, Carleton College three M.A.s, one in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences research. He has taught social science at the Asia- from the University of California Irvine, and a dual Following his passion in education, Joe Decker Pacifc Scholarship Consortium (APSC) Graduate Masters from the Graduate Theological Union & began working in Yangon before becoming the Summer School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and has Buddhist Institute, Berkeley, California. director of the newly established Chin Institute of taught international relations at the University of Social Sciences in Falam, Chin State. For three Waikato in New Zealand. Drs. James and Dorothy Guyot years, he worked on developing a school centered Ph.D. International Relations, Yale University around project-based learning and self-discovery. Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun The high point of Drs. Guyot’s entrepreneurial Ph.D. Chemistry, Yale University work was co-founding the Pre-Collegiate Program Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun is the executive director and 11 Parami Talk Series

Parami Talk Series is a monthly public event series that brings together students and the wider community. Participants meet infuential speakers from Myanmar and across the globe to discuss pressing contemporary issues. These events are provided free of charge.

January 27, 2017 July 29, 2017 “Making Unprecedented Decisions” “Finding Your Place in a Developing Myanmar” Daw Thet Thet Khine, Member of U Han Myo Oo, MA Candidate, Harvard Graduate Parliament School of Design Daw Khin Chan Myae Maung, Managing Director March 3, 2017 of Yangon Literary Magazine “The Role of Literary Study in a Modern Liberal Education” Daw Su Wai Yee, CEO & Founder of CiCi Dr. Howard R. Wolf, Scholar Moderator: U Win Yu, Director of Strategy and Development at Parami Institute March 31, 2017 “The Value of Education and Development August 27, 2017 in Myanmar” “Lessons from Asian Crisis and Asia Today” Chris Carter, Former Minister of Education of Anoop Singh, Former Director of the Asia and New Zealand Pacifc Department of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) April 29, 2017 “Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World” September 30, 2017 Scot Marciel, U.S. Ambassador “Corruption and Business in Myanmar—What Needs to Change?” May 31, 2017 Vicky Bowman, Director of Myanmar Center for “Entrepreneurship Journey” Responsible Business (MCRB) Daw Win Win Tint, Founder and CEO of City Mart Holding Company Limited (CMHL) October 28, 2017 “Real Estate and Macroeconomy” July 3, 2017 U Bo Bo Nge, Deputy Governor of Central Bank “Sustainable Development Guided by of Myanmar Preservation” Daw Moe Moe Lwin, Director and Vice Chairman November 25, 2017 of the Yangon Heritage Trust “Building an Inclusive Financial System” Hal Bosher, CEO and Special Advisor to the Chairman of Yoma Bank Limited

13 “It was refreshing to engage with the Parami Institute community who comes at issues from a new perspective. They are solution-oriented and look to make a positive impact on Myanmar’s future.”

- Hal Bosher, Parami Talk Series speaker and CEO of Yoma Bank

15 “The last class I attended at Parami Evening Classes Institute was ‘Leading Projects and Recognizing local companies’ need for human resource development, Parami Institute began offering Organizational Change’ with Peter. adult education courses. Apart from the operating costs of running the program, all remaining proft from He frequently shared his expertise evening classes goes towards the Parami Institute Sustainability Funds. in management even outside of the classroom. I also had a chance to learn from my classmates, many of whom were executives from local NGOs and social enterprises.” English Writing for the Skills for Complex Problem Leading Projects and -Htet Arkar Kyaw, PLP graduate Workplace Solving Organizational Change

This English course is designed During this eight-week course, In this course, students learn to equip students with the tools students hone their analytical and about project management, necessary for professional communication skills, and learn and develop the necessary writing. The material is presented to resolve common problems skills to ensure that deliverables in an engaging manner through in the workplace. Through are met on time and within a series of writing activities, case presentations, discussions and budget. The course is divided studies and discussions. The various activities, students learn into fve parts: fundamentals of frst half of the course covers the how to incorporate their newly project management, planning basics of effective writing such as acquired skills in the workplace and preparation, change sentence structure, word choice and daily lives. management, implementation and paragraph organization. The and closing-out. By the end second half focuses on applying of the course, students will these skills to students’ CVs, have developed the skills and cover letters and proposals. knowledge to achieve and maintain project changes.

17 Future of Parami

Parami Institute’s ultimate aim is to establish a private not-for-proft residential liberal arts and sciences university, modeled on Bard College’s academic programs. The near-term goal is to start as a non- residential Bachelor degree program by 2020. Parami University will slowly increase the number of majors and grow the size of its campus to provide a world-class liberal arts and sciences learning environment.

Academic Structure Faculty Recruitment Student Body

Students will take courses in the Bard College and Centre Parami University’s campus will natural sciences, social sciences, College—highly respected liberal be a dynamic environment that humanities, and arts. First and arts and sciences institutions refects the economic and ethnic second year students will follow a in the United States—will diversity of Myanmar. As part common curriculum designed to assist in the recruitment of of its commitment to creating provide a broad, interdisciplinary faculty members. In its initial change agents from all walks education. In their third year, phase, Parami University will of life, the university will waive students will participate in a recruit four full-time members more than 50% of the tuition foreign exchange program and with Ph.D.s from international revenue to provide full and partial declare their major(s). In their universities. New instructors will scholarships to students that fnal year, students will pursue a be added each year until the demonstrate fnancial need. thesis project and complete their faculty size reaches ten. These studies. Graduates will receive faculty members will form the dual Bachelor degrees from Bard core of three interdisciplinary College and Parami University. majors—politics, philosophy and economics (PPE); urban and environmental studies (UES); and computational and statistical studies (CSS).

19 Finances Thank You to Our Donors!

2% Major Financial Supporters In-kind Donors Food and Catering Child’s Dream City FM Radio Station 4% B.K. Kee Foundation Frontier Myanmar Materials and Stationery Diamond Donors 5% Mangosteen Public Relations PLP Living Stipends and Field Trips Dwight Clark Mamper 7% Hitoshi Ikeya Myanmar Net Expenses Other Expenses $216,029.84 Makoto Yamada (UMJ Ikeya Investment Ltd.) 13% Daw San San Htay Renovation and Rent Masahiro Koshiba (UMJ Ikeya Investment Ltd.) Tun Wood-Plastic Composite & Plastic Industries 34% Dr. Min Zaw Aung & Dr. Aye Aye Yee Faculty U Thein Htwe & Daw Khet Khet Kyu 36% Staff* U Tun & Daw Khin Lay Yee

Raysum Co. Ltd., Japan

Gold Donors 2% Dr. Aung Kyaw Win & Dr. Thet Thet Khine Parami Institute Sustainability Funds

2% U Aung Win & Dr. Khin Moe Lwin Other Revenues City Love & Hope Foundation 4% KBZ Bank PLP Tuition Fees Larry Pratt & Abby Pratt Revenue 10% $280,951.72 Private Donations Silver Donors 18% U Htin Lin Aung & Daw Lynn Lynn Tin Htun Local Foundations Mango Media Ltd. 64% International Foundations Punyoma International Co. Ltd.

Taejun Shin

* This includes the salary of our executive director, Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun, who also teaches a PLP course full-time. 21 Our Team

Administration

Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun Dr. Sean Turnell Executive Director; Professor of Scientifc Inquiry Economic Advisor to Daw ; Professor of Economics at Macquarie University U Win Yu Director of Strategy and Development Faculty

Nyein Pyae Sone Dr. Will Buckingham Administrative Offcer Professor of Humanities

Phyu Phyu Shein Michael Dunford Administrative Assistant Professor of Political Science

Su Myat Moe Dr. Carol Fujimura Development Offcer Professor of Social Sciences

Htet Ein Yan Operations Offcer Dr. Dorothy Guyot Professor of Economics Htun Lynn Zaw Photographer and Videographer Dr. Christina Hans Professor of Economics Advisory Board Dr. Stan Jagger U Ba Win Professor of Political Science Vice President of Bard College Andrey Tolstoy Vicky Bowman Professor of Global Cultures Director of Myanmar Center for Responsible Business Vincent Autexier Teaching Assistant (Scientifc Inquiry) Dwight Clark Founder of Volunteers in Asia Joseph Decker Faculty Member (Writing) Michael Marett-Crosby Trustee of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Trust for Health Whitney Huntley and Education Faculty Member (Writing)

U Nay Oke Alina Sidorova Founder of Institute of English Faculty Member (Writing)

Daw Rose Swe Co-Founder of Mango Group

Dr. Tin Hlaing Writer 3rd Floor, Shwe Gone Plaza Yangon, Myanmar

(+95) 9 793 030 555 [email protected] parami.edu.mm Facebook: @Parami.Institute Twitter: @ParamiInstitute Instagram: @parami_institute