Press Release

The Japan/ JICA has opened two research centers called "Myanmar-Japan Technological Development Centers (MJTDCs)" at Yangon Technological University (YTU), and handed over to Myanmar Government on the 26^th December 2019. The construction and establishment of the two research centers were agreed in August 2014 as a part of the Grant Aid "Project for Enhancing Technological Universities,"(Grant amount: 2,582 million Japanese Yen- Approx. 35.2 billion MMK) .

The establishment of the centres aims at enhancing the practical education and research capacity of YTU,. The MJTDC 1 is a 5-story building, which is used for common laboratories to be used by multiple departments. The MJTDC 2 is a three-story building, which is dedicated to the Civil Engineering researches. Both research centers are provided with advanced laboratory equipment.

Besides, Mandalay Technological University (MTU), another leading technological university, has been provided with research and education equipment, which had been handed over in 2017. With the new MJTDCs at YTU, the construction of the core advanced engineering centres in Myanmar has successfully completed to boost further education and research activities for the country.

JICA has been also supporting YTU and MTU in capacity development of the teaching staff of the two universities through the Technical Cooperation "Project for Enhancing Engineering Higher Education (EEHE)," where 6 engineering department of the two universities are supported by 7 universities in Japan to improve education as well as research activities. Under the project, 44 young teaching staff were sent to Japan, and most of them have already returned to Myanmar after obtaining a Ph.D. degree from Japan. The research centers and laboratory equipment will enable YTU researchers including those who study in Japan to proceed further with more advanced researches using the new equipment.

Advancement of engineering research capacity is one of the essential components for the socio-economic development of a country. The research activities at these centers are expected to be a driving force to push Myanmar to further industrial development.