URBANA – The chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees will talk about how the state's top research universities could better collaborate to train future workers and increase industry here.

Christopher Kennedy will talk about the research university and its importance to the economic development of the state and nation at the Beckman Institute Auditorium at noon Monday.

Beckman is at 405 N. Mathews Ave., U. Parking is available in the parking structure on the corner of Mathews Avenue and Clark Street.

The talk is sponsored by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and is open to the public.

Kennedy was unavailable for comment Friday, but Tom Hardy, the UI's chief spokesman, said the talk would not be limited to the state's flagship university.

"The speech is really an overview on the importance of the major research university and the three campuses, as well as other research universities in Illinois, notably Northwestern and the University of Chicago," he said.

Hardy said Kennedy, who is president of Merchandise Mart Properties in Chicago, will discuss the economic import of research.

"The (research universities) have a collective importance to the state as economic engines, foundations of new knowledge, and educators of our workforce in the future," Hardy said.

"He will talk about how as a group they could work better among themselves and with the business community and elected officials to attract more funding support from the federal government, to be able to able to maximize their potential."

The Undergraduate/Graduate Alliance was encouraging students to picket Kennedy's speech to protest a possible tuition hike, organizer Ben Rothschild said at a rally Friday for labor rights.