Birmingham Business School

Infobox University
name = Birmingham Business School

established = 1902
type = Business School
director = Jonathan Michie
city = Birmingham
country = England
affiliations = University of Birmingham
website = [http://www.business.bham.ac.uk www.business.bham.ac.uk]

Birmingham Business School is the business school of the University of Birmingham in England, located in University House, a former hall of residence in Edgbaston.

Originally established as the School of Commerce in 1902, it is the oldest Business School in England. [cite news|title=Birmingham Business School|url=http://student.independent.co.uk/graduate_options/business_schools/article3251233.ece|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent News and Media Limited|date=2007-12-16|accessdate=2007-10-07|language=|quote=History: The oldest business school in England. It was set up as part of the University of Birmingham in 1902. Birmingham was also the first English university to offer a business degree.]

Faculty History

took the first Chair of Commerce at the school, where he fostered the development of its commercial programme. From 1902 until 1923 he served as first Professor of Commerce and Dean of the Faculty, which he was instrumental in founding. At the time it was England's first Faculty of Commerce, and a hundred years later there are over one hundred Business Schools in the UK; Birmingham can perhaps claim to be the ancestor of them all. Ashley said in 1902Fact|date=June 2007 that the aim of the new Faculty was the education not of the "rank and file, but of the officers of the industrial and commercial army: of those who, as principals, directors, managers, secretaries, heads of department, etc., will ultimately guide the business activity of the country."

In its first year, the annual costs of the Faculty, including staff salaries, were £8,200 - there were six students, a lecture room and two classrooms. By 1908, fifteen men had graduated from the School, many with businesses waiting for their skills. Ashley statedFact|date=June 2007: "I quite expect that before I retire I shall be able to gather round me a room full of Managers and Managing Directors who have been students in the Faculty of Commerce." A large room would be needed now: over the past 100 years it is estimated that more than 15,000 students have passed successfully through the School.

The Faculty Today

The School is now an international research institution with over 80 teaching and research staff delivering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and tailor-made programmes to companies and senior management teams.

In March 2005 the School's new £20m home was officially opened by Sir Dominic Cadbury.

External links

* [http://www.business.bham.ac.uk Birmingham Business School Official Site]

References