MMU students to study in S Korea

TWO students from Myanmar Maritime University (MMU) have been awarded scholarships to study for masters degrees at Korea Maritime University (KMU) in Pusan, South Korea, starting next March.
The students – Mg Htet Linn, who will study Naval Architecture, and Mg Linn Linn, who will study Logistics Engineering – were chosen for the scholarships under an agreement between the two schools for KMU to provide two scholarships a year for MMU students.
Although students from MMU have been sent to KMU in the past to study Naval Architecture, Mg Linn Linn will the first student from Myanmar to study Logistics Engineering at the South Korean school, said an official from MMU.
In accepting the scholarships, the two students must sign a bond promising to serve at MMU as lecturers for five years after finishing their studies. – Thein Win Nyo

YMCA hosts Christmas program

THE Yangon branch of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) will hold its annual Children’s Christmas Day celebration on December 15 at YMCA Hall on Theinbyu Road, said Ma Cing Neam, a secretary from the association.
The program will include plays about the birth of Jesus performed by children from the YMCA nursery, as well as Christmas carol singing and the handing out of gifts to children.
Ma Cing Neam said the annual event is being held to educate the children who participate about the true meaning of Christmas.
Tickets for the program, which will last from 10am to noon, can be purchased for K3000 apiece at the YMCA. For more information please telephone (951) 294-128 or 203-027. – Kyaw Zin Htun

Meteorology scholarships offered

THE World Meteorgology Organisation has provided four scholarships to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, said its director general, U Tun Lwin.
The two-year scholarships will enable two employees of the department to study for a master of science in meteorology and another two to study for an MSc in hydrology, he said.
U Tun Lwin said the decision to offer the scholarships was a result of cooperation developed between the department and the organisation. He said those awarded would begin their studies next June.
U Tun Lwin said two would study for an MSc in meteorology at the University of the Philippines in Manila and the other two would study for an MSc in hydrology at the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. – Aye Sapay Phyu

Food hygiene courses restart

THE Department of Health under the Yangon City Development Committee will restart its series of food hygiene course for restaurant owners and managers in the third week of December, following the cancellation of the last scheduled course in September, said Dr Aung Than, the head of the department.
The courses, which are aimed at helping restaurants achieve acceptable hygiene standards, have been offered by the department four times a year since 2000.
Forty restaurant representatives are allowed into each course, which meet for three days from 9am to 12:30pm, Dr Aung Than said.
On the first two days department officials deliver lectures on food hygiene, while the last day is dedicated to gaining practical experience by observing onsite conditions at restaurants, he said.
“Those who attend the course gain practical knowledge that they can share with others to help make restaurants more hygienic,” he said.
Dr Aung Than said there are more than 8000 restaurants in the Yangon municipal area.
“There are also many roadside food stalls, most of which are not hygienic. We plan to start inspecting them next year,” he said. – Yi Yi Htwe

Embassies hold speech contests

THE Japanese and South Korean embassies in Yangon will organise separate speech contests in the languages of their respective countries this month, said embassy officials.
The South Korean embassy will hold its fifth speech contest on December 22 at Sedona Hotel in Yangon from 3pm to 6pm.
“We have chosen 12 students for the speech contest,” an official from the embassy said, adding that the competitors had all passed Level 4 of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK).
The official said no decision has been made on the prizes to be awarded to the winners.
“Last year the two students who got first and second in the contest were provided free scholarships to study in South Korea but I don’t know what the prizes will be this year,” said Daw Khaing Sabai, a teacher at Jon Jin Korea Language Centre in South Okkalapa township.
“If the winner gets a scholarship again I think more people will become interested in learning the Korean language,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Japanese embassy will organise a speech contest on December 15 at Nikko Hotel for students who have passed Level 2 on Japanese language tests.
“We have chosen 20 students to compete in the contest. The top competitors will advance to another contest and the winners from there will be sent on a short trip to Japan,” said a spokesperson from the embassy. – Ni Ni Myint