LORD Dearing, chairman of the Higher Education Policy Institute, will give the keynote speech at a conference in the region next week.

The University of Durham hosts the fifth conference for UK users of Blackboard e-learning software next Thursday and Friday.

The two-day event, which is expected to attract 100 delegates, takes place at the university's Elvet Riverside site, starting at 2pm.

Lord Dearing's address will explore the purpose of teaching and the changing role of universities in society over the next 20 years.