Extensive correspondence and papers relating to the Manchester Business School. The Manchester Business School was set up in 1965, one of two business schools (along with London) associated with universities. Business schools had been advocated by the Robbins Report, as well as by industry groups such as the Federation of British Industries, the Foundation for Management and the British Institute of Management, which lobbied vigorously for such schools as a means of improving British economic performance. They sponsored a report by Lord Franks, which recommended business schools should be established at London and Manchester. This was followed by a further report by Lord Normanbrook which set out mechanisms for funding business schools through a combination of public and private money. A campaign was then launched to raise funds from industry
. In 1965 the Manchester Business School was set up, based at Hilton Street in the city centre. It was headed by a Director, W.Grigor McClelland, and governed by a Council which included University and business members. Before the MBS was established, management education had been provided by both the Faculty of Economic and Social Studies at the Victoria University of Manchester and by the Department of Industrial Administration at UMIST. Management education continued to be developed independently at UMIST after the creation of the Business School. The MBS had a complicated constitutional status within the University; a Faculty of Business Administration oversaw the School's academic work, and was answerable to Senate. However, the School's main governing body, Council, was autonomous of the University; it was chaired by the vice-chancellor, and included eight members of Senate and eight business representatives. In the early 1970s, the School moved to new premises in the Precinct Centre, and physically at least, became part of the University campus.
The file comprises correspondence and papers relating to the early debates about management education in Manchester, including a joint report by FESS and DIA staff, "Education for Management and Administration" (July 1962) outlining possible developments for the subject. There is also substantial documentation of the discussions ensuing from the Franks and Normanbrook reports between the University, the Foundation for Management and various industrialists concerning the nature and funding of the School. The file includes comments by University academics about the School, some critical, e.g. R.Beresford Dew and R.W.Revans "The Department of Industrial Administration" (1964), outlining their concerns about the future of this department. Other subjects covered include: recruitment of staff, including the appointment of the Director, appointment of business members to the School's Council, raising of funds from business for the MBS, the role of the University Grants Committee in funding (including support for a new building for the School), terms and conditions of School staff, outside work of the School and the creation of an alumni group, the MBS Association.
Former reference: 236