5 July 2010 - Sir Ken Morrison opens Bradford School of Management - and School changes views on economic growth
Sir Ken Morrison officially opened Bradford University School of Management's £12m new building which includes a Harvard-style MBA suite and new social and learning spaces which 'are changing the way students study' according to the Dean.
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| Professor Arthur Francis and Sir Ken Morrison |
| Podcasts from the event |
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Sir Ken Morrison's speechMore than 100 of Yorkshire's leading business figures joined the former chairman of supermarket chain Morrison on Friday 2 July and heard the valedictory lecture from retiring dean, Professor Arthur Francis, who has led the School over the last 12 years to become a UK top ten business school.
Professor Francis admitted that while economic growth is still seen as important by academics, it is now recognised that risks must be minimised: "Business schools play a key role in training the managers of the enterprises that drive economic growth. However their education and training must embrace corporate social responsibility and a commitment to the 'triple bottom line' of profits, people and the planet."
He added that the key skills of managers in coming years will be to achieve more with less - and went on to highlight the importance of business schools to do this.
"Business schools make two major contributions to economic growth," he said. "As 'trade schools', training managers to run enterprises - and as sources of innovation through their research activities. The great shame is that in the US and UK many academics have been uncomfortable with the role of 'trade school' trainer. They have sought higher status for themselves and greater legitimacy for their activities within their universities by pursuing research that is seen to be highly 'academic' - a strategy that has been termed 'physics envy'. This hasn't happened in France and Germany."
He went on to highlight a number of examples of how business schools have transformed business: "We used to rent TVs because they went wrong the whole time. In the 1960s US business school academics introduced quality management as a discipline to Japanese consumer electronics manufacturers and eventually US and European firms copied them. Now everyone buys their own TVs because they hardly ever go wrong."
Sir Ken opened the new building which unites the Bradford School of Management campus, formerly split into two parts, through a new two-story Atrium. It fuses the striking Victorian splendour of the existing campus with the modern, cutting-edge design of the new build. The Atrium creates spaces flooded with natural light and houses learning spaces, restaurant, social area and an impressive floating staircase.
A new three-storey 'retro wing' has also been created containing offices for staff and students, learning and teaching rooms, and a circular Harvard-style lecture theatre.
In his opening speech Sir Ken admitted that while he had few formal qualifications, he had taken evening classes at the School of Management - and they were 'potent stuff'.
The building is part of the Ecoversity initiative to minimise the university's impact on the environment - the University of Bradford is seen as a sector leader in the fields of sustainable development and education.
Architects Farrell & Clark overcame the challenges of the School's conservation area and its listed Victorian building to achieve a BREEAM 'Excellent' environmental rating. Environmental features include a biomass boiler, energy efficient lighting, solar panels and electric car charging facilities.
Last month the University of Bradford jumped three places in the Green League (which measures the environmental impact of universities) to number seven.
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Notes for editors
1 New build factfile- Considerable redevelopment challenges, including being in a conservation area and the Victorian buildings are Grade II listed
- Many trees on the site were protected by Preservation Orders and conservation officers and arboriculturalists were involved in the planning stages
- The building has been awarded a BREEAM 'excellent' rating
- Construction was carried out by Ilkley-based Quarmby Construction Company
- Design was handled by Leeds-based architects Farrell & Clark
- Biomass boiler
- Solar panels provide water heating
- Electric car charging facilities
- Live public transport information feed
- Rainwater harvesting to provide water to flush toilets
- Library shelf lights triggered only when a reader approaches