Mizoram University has signed a new agreement with the Institute of Chin Affairs in Myanmar to begin academic cooperation and open new opportunities for students from both sides. Officials from Mizoram University said that the Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Tuesday by Vice Chancellor Prof. Dibakar Chandra Deka and the deputy executive director of the Institute of Chin Affairs, Mai Lucy Mawi.
According to the officials, the agreement includes several important areas of cooperation. One key area is the plan to start a diploma course in spoken Burmese at Mizoram University. The agreement also includes admission of students from Myanmar to Mizoram University and joint research activities between the two institutions. University officials said that these measures are aimed at improving academic exchanges and helping students learn more about each other’s society and language in a simple and practical way.
University authorities said that this new partnership is expected to strengthen academic ties and increase cultural exchange between Mizoram and Chin state in Myanmar. They added that the new diploma course will give students a chance to learn the Burmese language in a formal way, which may also help them in future academic and work opportunities. The collaboration also plans to encourage students and researchers from both sides to take part in research work together in selected subjects.
This agreement has also come at a time when Mizoram has been sheltering a large number of refugees from Myanmar due to the unrest in that country. State officials have earlier stated that more than 31,000 refugees from Myanmar, mostly from Chin state, have entered Mizoram in the last few years. Many of these refugees include school-age children who are now studying in government and private schools in different parts of the state.
Officials believe that the new academic partnership may help these students in the long run. They said that many refugee students have language barriers and this kind of academic programme can support them by giving them new learning options. They also said that the agreement will not only help students in the present situation but will also contribute to future academic and cultural cooperation between Mizoram and the Chin community.
The officials further stated that by improving academic links and encouraging joint study programmes, both sides hope to develop a stable foundation for long-term cooperation. This includes sharing academic knowledge, language training, and helping students from Myanmar find opportunities in higher education in Mizoram. According to the officials, these steps are meant to respond to the current needs while building a stronger understanding between the two neighbouring regions.
