A Dedicated Event Focusing on Next Generation Learning Technology

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND—May 12, 2008—Blackboard Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBB), a leading provider of educational enterprise technology, today announced the programme for BbWorld Europe® ’08, which will focus on best practices and innovative breakthroughs in education technology and will take place May 12-14 in Manchester, U.K.

BbWorld Europe is an opportunity for over 350 senior education leaders, academics and managers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to come together to share their knowledge and expertise in the field of online teaching and learning, and discuss innovations that are being used to promote student engagement and achievement.

The event also represents an important opportunity to gain insight on next generation learning technologies, including Release 8.0 of the Blackboard Academic Suite™, and Project NG, Blackboard’s ongoing effort to deliver a next generation teaching and learning solution.

Keynote addresses will be delivered by the following:

•   Michael L. Chasen, President and CEO at Blackboard, on the challenges higher education institutions are facing in a rapidly changing world;
•   Professor Colin J. Stirling, Vice President of Teaching and Learning at the University of Manchester, on the role that the U.K. Higher Education sector plays in raising the level of skills amongst its population in order to remain competitive; 
•   Gordon Freedman, Vice President of Education Strategy at Blackboard, on ‘Unlocking the Global Education Imperative’ and the launch of Blackboard’s Global White Paper; and
•   Andreas Schleicher, Directorate for Education at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, on the recent changes in the global talent pool and the key policy levers associated with high performance in education.

“Educators are rapidly and profoundly changing their communities through the adoption of new and evolving technology,” said Chasen. “We look forward to sharing our vision for the future at BbWorld Europe, including Project NG, Blackboard’s multi-year, multi-release project to deliver a next generation teaching and learning solution that introduces new capabilities to engage students, leverages the power of social learning communities, and drives success in institutional assessment.”

At BbWorld Europe, participants will take part in more than 30 sessions highlighting innovative and entrepreneurial approaches that leverage technology to address some of the most important challenges in education, including:
•   Measuring student learning and learning outcomes
•   Engaging students with Web 2.0 technologies, (blogs, wikis, podcasts, gaming & simulations)
•   Improving engagement and retention for at-risk students 
•   Assessing the effect of academic programs and initiatives
•   Improving faculty training and professional development
•   Meeting rising student expectations in the classroom and on campus
•   Using data to address accreditation and other institutional advancement agendas

For more information on BbWorld Europe, including the registration and the event’s programme guide, please visit http://www.bbworld08.com/europe.