It is so interesting to be here at this stage in Myanmar's history and to get to know the inspirational people who will take this country forward from its grim past.

Today, over 2,000 people attended a special ceremony for the handing back of the Technical institute of Engineering from the authorities at Insein in the north of the city. It was seized by the military in 1997 and used as a prison for monks arrested in the uprisings of that year. Some died within these walls.

Set up in 1912 by the British as the country's first engineering Institure, it had its first Myanmar principal in 1936 and was run to produce engineers for the future. This all changed in 1997 and since that time, former students (alumni) have not been allowed to revisit the campus. There have been no engineering courses and the future looked bleak. Wasted years of opportunity both for prospective students and the country as a whole.

Today, Hope returned as a group of alumni has got together to put the Institute back on its feet. Their motivation is to "support the next generation" - it's a statement which is deeply moving and inspiring They are wise leaders and I am hugely impressed by their selfless commitment to Myanmar's future.

It it will need huge funds and dedication to rebuild this campus. Buildings have been left to decay over the years but there is a relentless optimism, tempered with the realism of what needs to be done. They have no workshop and the entire campus infrastructure needs to be renovated.

Later this year in Decenber, there will be a new intake of students and once again, this proud national institute will move forward to produce the next generation of students for the benefit of the country.

in 2020, the first chart of new engineers is expected to graduate from this historic institution. I would love to return and see the pride in the faces of the leaders I met today. They so deserve to succeed.