On February 21, 2014 in Yangon, Myanmar, UBC’s Institute of Asian Research (IAR) appointed Professor Aung Tun Thet an honourary professor of UBC. Thet is the chief economic advisor to the president of Myanmar. Vice-President of Research and International John Hepburn and Professors Yves Tiberghien and Rick Barichello represented the IAR and UBC in a nationally televised ceremony that commenced with a speech given by Canadian ambassador Mark McDowell.
Thet’s visit to UBC in November 2013 generated ideas for immediate and future collaborations between UBC and Myanmar, from joint research and development projects to building a Track II ASEAN Studies Centre at UBC. As honourary professor, Thet will participate in research activities involving rural development and geopolitical economy of Southeast Asia with faculty and students. For more information, including a bio of Thet and a video of the ceremony with interviews of Hepburn and Tiberghien, click here.
