Educators from Myanmar visit Western Illinois University

MACOMB, Ill. (AP) - A group of teachers and administrators from Myanmar has wrapped up a month-long visit to Illinois.

Twenty-six educators participated in the Educational Leadership Institute, a partnership between Western Illinois University and the International language and Business Centre of Myanmar that started in 2014.

Educators attended classes and seminars to improve teaching methodology and leadership skills. They also visited elementary and secondary schools in the Macomb region.

Jeff Hancks is executive director of Western's School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach. He says the benefits of the program are "tremendous." It brings diversity to campus, and some teachers could pursue master's degrees online from WIU in the future.

Hancks says the university's goal is that WIU faculty will get to travel to Myanmar in the future.