Although not as famous as Alvin Toffler, Herb O'Heron is Canada's own educational futurist. Working with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), as director of research and policy analysis, he analyzes statistics and trends in education and makes predictions for the future of post-secondary education in Canada.

O'Heron will be providing his insights on the value of a degree as part of the President's Leadership Lecture series on Monday, Jan. 28 at 4: 30 p.m. in Building A, Room 225 (boardroom) at the Abbots-ford campus.

He is the first speaker in UFV president Mark Evered's Leadership Lecture Series for the 2013 calendar year.

"Herb will be speaking to the value of a degree to an individual and the value of a university to the community" said Evered. "This speaker is a great fit with the goal of the leadership series to bring speakers that challenge and provoke discussion at the university and in the community."

Universities across Canada have experienced tremendous growth over the last 30 years. Since 1980 the number of fulltime university students has more than doubled, while part-time enrolment is up 16 percent, according to AUCC's Trends in Higher Education publication.

This free educational lecture is open to members of the community as well as students, alumni, faculty and staff of the university.

? Information on the President's Lecture Series and other public events is available on the UFV website www.ufv.ca or by email at betsy.terpsma@ufv.ca or by telephone at 604 854-4503.