MEDIA ADVISORY: Sir Christopher Ball, Leading Thinker in Education Policy, Will Deliver Address at U.Va. on Sept. 24

September 18, 2009 — Sir Christopher Ball, a leading thinker, reformer and implementer of education policy, will discuss "Universities in a Global Society" on Sept. 24 at the University of Virginia.

His talk is sponsored by U.Va.'s Office of the Vice Provost for International Programs.

Ball, who was knighted for his accomplishments by Queen Elizabeth, has served as a government adviser to Prime Minister John Major and held numerous other prestigious positions in higher education institutions. He is the founder of England's national Campaign for Learning and also served as chairman of The Global University Alliance in 2000.

Born in 1935 and educated at Oxford University, Ball went on to become an academic and a policymaker, with interests in early learning, brain science, higher education and learning in the workplace.

In an interview in the publication Effecting Change in Higher Education, Ball was asked what he thought were the barriers to change in higher education. He said people who doubt that change will promote their self-esteem will not readily enter into what he called a "change situation." He also said people who cannot see an example to follow will not be motivated to change.

His talk will place on Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. in U.Va.'s Newcomb Hall Ballroom. It is free and open to the public.

Sir Christopher Ball will be available for interviews at 4:30 p.m. at the Newcomb Hall Ballroom. Broadcast media: please contact Carolyn Dillard at 434-996-6279 (cell) or cdillard@virginia.edu for arrangements.

Media Contact