The fourth cohort of 12 Yangon University academics came to Australian National University (ANU) 16 - 27 May 2016 to participate in the intensive short course training program in Social and Demographic Research Methods (SDRM) under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade funded Government Partnerships for Development Program (GPfD). This is the final group in this program which has been running since 2014. In total, 56 Yangoon University academics have been trained at ANU under this program.

As with the previous cohort, participants came from both the physical and social sciences as part of an approach to developing the capacity at Yangon University to undertake multi-disciplinary research aligned with Myanmar's development needs. 

Lecturers from the Colleges of Arts & Social Sciences, Asia & the Pacific and Medicine Biology & Environment delivered the modules for this program in a joint cooperative effort which has drawn on the extensive expertise available at ANU. Participants thoroughly enjoyed the program and said that it has provided them with in-depth knowledge on how to design their own projects, analyse socio-demographic data, and apply the mixed methods approach.

Pro Vice Chancellor Innovation, Professor Michael Cardew-Hall presided over the graduation ceremony for the Yangon University participants on 27 May which was held in the Common Room, University House.

This report has been provided by Dr Helen James who has organised the Social and Demographic Research Methods training program for the four cohorts of academic staff from Yangon University.