As we mark the first anniversary of the Myanmar Studies Center (MSC), launched on 15 May 2024, it’s time to reflect on a vibrant year filled with events, partnerships, and research initiatives. Established to promote interdisciplinary inquiry and education on Myanmar, the MSC has been steadily building a platform for deeper academic engagement. Here’s an overview of some key highlights from the past year.
Events that sparked dialogue…
We began with the summer school on “Navigating Geostrategic Dynamics in the Indo-Pacific” (17–21 June 2024). This program brought together PhD and advanced MA students to explore the regional dynamics shaping Southeast Asia and Myanmar. Guest lecturers included notable scholars such as Brantly Womack, Michal Lubina, Catherine Renshaw, and Elizabeth Rhoads, among others. As part of the course, participants submitted short articles, and a select few were published, including:
- Rakhine's Rising Power: Arakan Army's Triumphs and Rohingya Agony by Taufiq E. Faruque
- Geopolitical dance: The blooming partnership of Russia and Myanmar as a threat to regional stability? by Antonín Nenutil
- Economic Obstacles and Opportunities in Myanmar by Kristýna Raimerová.
This was followed by the Interdisciplinary Myanmar Conference 2024, coorganized with the Myanmar-Institut e. V. (Berlin), and held in Olomouc from 21–23 June. Titled “Myanmar’s International Role: More Than a Buffer State”, the conference hosted around 70 participants from around the world. Stringent vetting procedures ensured a safe space free of military infiltration. The keynote, “Burma/Myanmar and the United Nations: Hope, Hypocrisy and Betrayal”, was delivered by Professor Catherine Renshaw of Western Sydney University.
Beyond academic panels, the MSC also curated cultural events to raise awareness and deepen public engagement. Highlights included a December 2024 movie screening of The Ice Cream Sellers, a documentary on the Rohingya crisis, followed by a Q&A with Monika Verma. In February 2025, on the fourth anniversary of Myanmar’s 2021 coup, we showcased six short films from Myanmar – celebrating the courage and resilience of its people. We also extended our reach to local communities, offering a guest lecture on Myanmar for seniors enrolled in the University of the Third Age (U3V).
Growing our team…
Over the past year, MSC has grown into a more dynamic and international team. We welcomed two Burmese interns – both participants in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and enrolled at Palacký University Olomouc through exchange programs: Yu Mon Htay (May–July 2024), a Master’s student in Computer Science at Mandalay Yadanabon University, who designed the MSC logo; and Thant Thet Oo Khant (Eric), currently interning with us, also from the Yadanabon University.
Our team also grew through the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA). Monika Verma joined in September 2024 – she researches the securitization of migration in South Asia, particularly its impact on Rohingya refugees. Two new fellows will join us in September 2025: Cécile Medail, focusing on solidarity-building in post-coup Myanmar, and Peter K., who will examine non-state post-secondary education initiatives in Myanmar. In the latest MSCA call, three promising Burmese candidates are currently developing proposals to join our team.
Projects with purpose…
MSC is proud to contribute to several international projects advancing education and opportunity for Burmese students. One of them is the European Union Mobility Programme for Myanmar (EMPM), which provides virtual internships and micro-credentials. While EMPM funds the program, MSC leads academic content design. Our offerings include two courses that Burmese students can take (online): “Human Rights in Asia” (taught by Kristina Kironska) and “Japan’s Role in International Affairs” (taught by Federica Cidale), and one virtual internship, all scheduled to start in fall 2025. Additionally, through EMPM’s Short-Term Mobility Program, selected Burmese students will be able to spend a semester in Olomouc (also in fall 2025).
MSC was also involved in the Myanmar Higher Education Consortium’s USAID-funded Pilot Capstone and Fast-Track Graduation Program for CDM Students under the Development and Inclusive Scholarship Program (DISP), before its termination in January 2025 by the Trump administration under the executive order to defund so-called “DEI” programming.
To expand the activities of the MSC, we applied for an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership project together with international partners, aimed at advancing Myanmar studies in EU academia by developing innovative methodologies for teaching on access-limited contexts; results will be known in August 2025.
MSC has also contributed to the design of a new Bachelor’s study program, Asian Politics, Economy, and Society (APES), which will feature Myanmar-related coursework. Enhancing the integration of Myanmar into the curriculum of the Department of Asian Studies has been one of the objectives of the MSC
Publishing for impact…
The MSC research team remained active and engaged throughout the year, producing impactful publications across multiple platforms. A highlight was the academic article by Monika Verma and Kristina Kironska, Exploring Public Opinions on Rohingya Refugees Residing in India: An Empirical Study, published in the International Journal of Population Studies. Based on data from the 2022 Sinophone Borderlands Survey (with data used in the article stored at Harvard Dataverse), the article offers an in-depth look at public sentiment toward Rohingya refugees in India. Several additional papers drawing on the same dataset are currently in development.
In addition to academic publishing, MSC members addressed pressing issues through short-form articles, contributing timely analysis and commentary. These included:
- Myanmar’s Earthquake: A Disaster Made Worse by Blocked Aid by Kristina Kironska
- Is Czech support for Myanmar’s democracy slipping? by Federica Cidale and Kristina Kironska
- Connecting the Dots: Ne Win and Min Aung Hlaing's Role in Myanmar's Military Legacy by Federica Cidale
We also welcomed guest contributions to the MSC website, such as Zay Myo Lin’s piece Protecting Pagan (Bagan): How Plants Affect a Historic Site, which explored the environmental challenges facing Myanmar’s cultural heritage.
Beyond written work, MSC members shared their insights through podcasts. Kristina Kironska spoke on The Bridge: Europe’s Indo-Pacific Podcast by 9DASHLINE in collaboration with the European Parliament about the 2025 earthquake’s regional impact. She and Monika Verma also appeared on the Nordinc Asia Podcast episode, “Studying Myanmar in Times of Crises”, discussing the ethical and emotional challenges of researching a country in turmoil.
Looking forward…
As we celebrate our first anniversary, we remain committed to keeping Myanmar in focus, especially in the wake of the recent devastating earthquake and the people’s continued struggle against the military regime. In the coming year, the Myanmar Studies Center (MSC) will continue to deepen its efforts to raise awareness, support academic research, and amplify voices from Myanmar.