Alumni Spotlight: Eaint Thet Hmu’s journey into gender and development
Parami University alumna Eaint Thet Hmu has recently been awarded a DAAD Scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand.
For Eaint, graduating from Parami University in June 2026 marked the beginning of a new chapter—one that brings together her interest in gender and development with her commitment to supporting students.
After graduation, Eaint began working at Parami University as an Academic Advisor, where she supports students as they navigate their academic journeys. While helping others find their paths, she is also taking the next step in her own academic journey.
Eaint’s interest in gender was sparked during her time at Parami. In her Second Year Seminar, learning about the concept of othering through Toni Morrison's The Origins of Others helped her discover a topic she wanted to explore further. “That concept helped me to find a topic that I am always keen on exploring more,” Eaint reflected.
Her learning also extended beyond the classroom. Through an internship arranged by the university, Eaint worked at a local social enterprise that advocates for maternal care and supports mothers’ personal growth and financial stability.
Another important turning point came during her Taiwan Cultural Immersion Exchange Program. Experiencing a different cultural context encouraged her to look at her own community with new eyes and ask deeper questions about gender and access.
Those questions eventually led to Project PyitTineHtaung, which she launched with fellow Parami students who shared the same interest. Together, they brought sex and gender education to students in her hometown of Magway.
“Watching an idea shaped abroad take root in the place I grew up, offering sex and gender education to students in an underserved region, showed me that this wasn't just an academic interest. It was something I wanted to keep building a career around,” Eaint explained.
Receiving the DAAD scholarship represents another milestone in a journey that Eaint discovered along the way. Her experience has also shaped the advice she would give to current Parami students considering further studies.
“Liberal arts gave me the room to explore a lot of different fields before I found the thing that excites me,” Eaint said.
But Eaint believes that finding something exciting is only part of the journey. For her, students should also consider whether their interests can become something sustainable in their everyday lives.
“Interests can wear you out once they become your job, so the real find is something you can still feel good about doing every day, not just occasionally,” she reflected.
Applying for graduate school while completing her bachelor's degree at Parami University also came with challenges.
“I applied while I was still finishing my bachelor's, so the real challenge was balancing my final-year capstone project with a full master's application at the same time,” Eaint recalled.
As Eaint prepares to begin her Master’s degree at AIT, her journey reflects how academic interests can grow through exploration, international experiences, community engagement, and opportunities to put learning into practice.
From discovering an interest in gender studies at Parami to bringing gender education to her hometown and now pursuing graduate studies, she continues to build on the questions and experiences that have shaped her path.
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