Birmingham Business School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birmingham Business School is part of the University of Birmingham in the UK and was originally established, as the School of Commerce, in 1902 making it the oldest Business School in England.
[edit] Faculty History
In 1901, Sir William Ashley 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 1902 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 stated: "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.
[edit] 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.
