Dear Colleagues:

I am delighted to share with you that Professor David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom will offer a public talk on March 10 at 1:30 p.m. in room 1005 of the Beckman Institute, entitled "Through a Glass Darkly: What the Future of Higher Education Might Be."

Vice-Chancellor Eastwood’s talk will focus on how higher education is changing to address society’s changing needs. As we envision our campus 20 to 50 years into the future, we are exploring how to best position the university for continued relevance and impact. Vice-Chancellor Eastwood’s service on numerous national bodies and committees contributing to recent, often dramatic discussions and policy changes in UK higher education and research provide a unique perspective on this critical topic.

Dr. Eastwood has served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham since April 2009, having previously served as the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Vice-Chancellor of the University of East Anglia, and the Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Board. He held a chair in Modern History at the University of Wales, Swansea, where he also served as Head of Department, Dean, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor and co-founded the National Centre for Public Policy.

 In addition, he has served on numerous national bodies and committees influencing UK higher education and research, including as a member of the Roberts Review of the Research Assessment Exercise, the Tomlinson Group on 14-19 Education 2003-2004, and the Board of the Quality Assurance Agency.  He has chaired the 1994 Group of Universities, the UUK’s Longer Term Strategy Group, and the Westminster Education Commission. More recently he was a member of the Government's Independent Review Panel looking at Higher Education Funding and Student Finance. He is currently Chair of the Russell Group of Universities, a Director of Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), and a Board Member of Universities UK (UUK). He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Higher Education Policy Institute.

Again, Dr. Eastwood will deliver his public message at 1:30 p.m. in room 1005 of the Beckman Institute, 405 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana.

I hope you will join us.

Sincerely,

Phyllis M. Wise, Chancellor