28 March 2026 – Mizoram University (MZU) and the Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA) have jointly introduced a new one-year Diploma in Burmese Language and Communication Skills, set to begin in April 2026.
The programme aims to build practical proficiency in Myanmar’s official language while providing insights into the country’s culture and politics.
This is particularly relevant given the close ethnic, cultural, and historical ties between the Mizo and Chin communities across the India-Myanmar border.
The course will be led by a native Burmese speaker and conducted in both Mizo and Burmese. It covers the Burmese script, vocabulary, grammar, and essential communication skills, with each semester including 60 hours of classroom teaching and 30 hours of self-study.
Upon completion of both semesters, participants will receive a full Diploma. Completing one semester will earn a Certificate. The programme is expected to benefit students, researchers, and professionals seeking opportunities with international NGOs (INGOs), religious organisations, humanitarian agencies, and other groups working in Myanmar or along the border regions.
The fee is set at 2,000 rupees per semester, which includes study materials.
Mizoram has hosted tens of thousands of refugees from Myanmar’s Chin State since the 2021 military coup, with many fleeing ongoing conflict, violence, and instability. The state shares deep kinship ties with the Chin people, as both communities belong to the larger Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic family and maintain strong cross-border connections.
Knowledge of Burmese (Myanmar) language is increasingly valuable for effective communication, humanitarian work, research, journalism, and cross-border engagement in a region where English and local dialects alone are often insufficient.
The Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA) focuses on education, humanitarian support, and advocacy for the Chin people. Its partnership with Mizoram University reflects growing academic collaboration aimed at addressing practical needs arising from the refugee situation and regional dynamics.
This initiative builds on earlier efforts by MZU and ICA to promote Burmese language studies and strengthens people-to-people ties in India’s Northeast. – Reporting by Daniel
