Universität KonstanzExzellenzcluster „Kulturelle Grundlagen von Integration“

Feldforschung in Myanmar – Ein Workshopbericht

4. April 2016

The University of Yangon is the oldest university in Myanmar and has only recently opened its doors to foreign researchers. International collaboration, knowledge exchange and capacity building are important to the local academic staff.

Group Picture with PhD students, lecturers of anthropology and the conference organizers at the Local Knowledge Centre on the University campus in Yangon.

Opening words of the workshop “Doing fieldwork in Myanmar” by Prof. Dr. Judith Beyer.

Six PhD students from Myanmar and five PhD and MA students from German-speaking countries presented on their ongoing anthropological fieldwork in Myanmar.

Von Prof. Dr. Judith Beyer

On April 1, 2016 the University of Konstanz and the University of Yangon collaborated in carrying out a one-day research workshop on “Doing fieldwork in Myanmar.” Jointly organized by Prof. Dr. Judith Beyer (University of Konstanz, Department of Sociology and Center of Excellence), Prof. Dr. Mya Khin (Anthropology Department, University of Yangon), and Dr. Felix Girke (University of Konstanz, Center of Excellence), the event brought together 24 participants from Myanmar and German-speaking countries. Eleven PhD and MA students presented first findings from their on-going anthropological fieldwork in the country.

The topics ranged from labour and migration to religion, livelihood, and cultural heritage. A major focus rested on questions of method and fieldwork practice (see programm below). The students debated challenges and obstacles that they experienced while carrying out their research. Senior scholars guided them in further developing the conceptual frameworks of their studies.

After fifty years of authoritarianism, Myanmar has only recently become accessible for foreign researchers again. These students are thus on the forefront of a new generation of anthropologists carrying out long-time qualitative research in this Southeast Asian country. The University of Yangon itself had been off limits for most foreigners until 2014. The workshop was an important first step towards a hopefully more institutionalized collaboration between the University of Konstanz and the University of Yangon.