"The campus of Yangon University, formerly Rangoon University, in the centre of the city, is semi-abandoned. Tall grass surrounds the old convocation hall still used by a number of universities for delivering degrees. But other structures, particularly the old student buildings, are in a dilapidated state. Some classes are still held for postgraduate and doctoral students but the main university, along with other Yangon universities, was relocated to the outskirts of town in the 1990s. With its history of student activism and dissent since British Colonial times, the military government relocated the university in part to quell student activism and prevent student demonstrations gaining support within the city. Ma Ei studied for a masters degree in international relations at the old campus in 2008. ?It was very dirty, with old buildings and a lot of [overgrown] bushes. The environment was very poor,” she told University World News. In addition, the once-leafy campus lost many of its trees during Cyclone Nargis in 2008. ?Many of the big trees were destroyed, almost all of the old trees are gone.” But now, as the Myanmar government looks to invest in four of its major universities as centres of excellence ? part of its efforts to rebuild higher education ? Yangon residents have been engaged in excited discussions over the future of the campus. This follows a suggestion by a senior presidential advisor that Yangon University be restored to its former glory as one of South East Asia?s top universities."...