Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Law and Education, Ms Indranee Rajah SC was in Myanmar for a visit from 18 to 20 February 2014 to meet various Myanmar leaders.  She was joined by the deans of Singapore’s law schools, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Law.

On 18 and 19 February 2014, Ms Rajah witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding on Cooperation in Legal Education ("MOU") between the Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Law and the National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Law, with the University of Yangon Department of Law and the University of Mandalay Department of Law, respectively.

The MOUs aim to promote cooperation in legal education between the universities.  Key areas of cooperation include faculty exchanges, study visits, curriculum planning and design, cooperation in legal education pedagogy, as well as enhancement of legal research and development resources.

Dean of SMU School of Law, Professor Yeo Tiong Min, said, “Myanmar and Singapore share the same common law tradition, and face many similar issues in adapting and applying it in an Asian society. There is much that the universities can learn from one another on issues of law and legal education. The memorandum of understanding will enable the signatory universities to work more closely together to the mutual benefit of all.”  Professor Yeo is also Honorary Senior Counsel (Singapore) and a Yong Pung How Professor of Law.

[Photo: Artist's impression of new SMU School of Law building, slated for completion in 2017.]

[Featured Photo: Signing ceremony at Mandalay University in Myanmar on 19 February 2014. (Front Row L-R) Prof Yeo Tiong Min, SMU Dean of the School of Law;  Dr Saw Pyone Naing, Mandalay University Acting Rector; Prof Simon Chesterman, NUS Dean of the Faculty of Law.  (Back Row) Witnessing the signing were: Singapore Senior Minister of State Ms Indranee Rajah and Singapore’s Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Robert Chua.]