A DEGREE IN COMMERCE.

Northern Advocate, 26 September 1919, Page 3

A DEGREE IN COMMERCE.

WHAT IT WILL MEAN TO

INDUSTRY

THE BATTLES OF BUSINESS

(By Sir Herbert Morgan, K.8.E., in

the London "Observer.",)

For many years business men have been urging the necessity of establishing an adequate system ot commercial education in this country. They have regarded with a certain apprehension the scrides matte by our rivals in this matter and vecogniseu (that the great success of our competitors has depended largely on •superior training. At the risk of labouring th e obvious it must be insisted that the whole of our success

as a commercial nation rests on our educational system. The battles of (business are fought with wits and knowledge. Man to man vv c must be as well trained, as alert to opportunity and as sensitive to modern conditions as our rivals. Otherwise we shall undoubtedly lose that commercial supremacy which but a few years ago no country in the world could assail. rj ' The University of London has laid before the business community and the country a proposal to establish a Degree of Commerce. No more suitable time could have been chosen for this proposal, nor could it have (been launched under more favourable auspices. London, as the commercial capital of the world, has up to the present been under some reproach in its neglect of commercial but the present is a time of reconstruction and reform. The University, instead of hatching a curricuum in th e obscurity of its academic councils, has brought its proposals to the business world for criticism and advice. Committees ■composed of the leading men in many industries hav e been appointed who have reported on their special needs. The "Kings of Shipping" (under the chairmanship of Lord Inchcape), the Press (under the presidency of Lord Burnham), and many others, have pronounced on the type of training with which they would like to endow their future employees. Their suggestions have been incorporated in the general scheme, and the result is a curriculum which will be of the highest practical value to the business men of the future. TWO PITFALLS. Mr Balfour .has very shrewdly pointed out two pitfalls which (threaten us in this matter of commercial education. Either it may be made too academic to be of any practical use, or it may be too narrow and purely technical to provide a broad and liberal education. The University of London has steered between these two dangers and ensured that, while giving specialist training of an advanced order this shall be preceded by a mor c general course. We are essentially a commercial people, hut we cannot afford to make so great a shibboleth of technical training that a training in general culture is altogether neglected. Employers to-day ar e finding very grave difficulties in the matter of recruiting for the higher ranks of their business. They are inundated daily with applicants who, having no special training or experience, are unwilling, many of them, to start on the bottom rung of the ladder and learn the business in the practical school. There appears to be an idea abroad that administrative positions can be secured without any knowledge of the technical matters which they

control. The truth is, of course, that a very detailed knowledge of technique is necessary to all successful administration. We may now look forward to a time when the employer will beaabel c to turn*with confidence to a practical source of highly-train-ed and expert young men to fill these positions. The result will inevitably be a toning up of the standard and efficiency of British business. THE PERIOD OF TRAINING.. This result, however will not be secured unles s the closest touch is kepi between commercial London and the- University. Arrangements have h;.ppily been made to establish perm.uient committees, jointly composed of University officials and men of business, to act in an advisory capacity. This step is undoubtedly of the highest importance, for the degree must be always subject to revision according to the changing needs of the day. The business men of London must support their University in this matter and keep them advised of their requirements. There aie a hundred ways in which they, can help, by giving practical support! to the fund which is being raised to endow the degree, by assisting in j building up a body of commercial i literature which is one of the projects in hand, and by keeping always in touch with th c External Bureau, which is being founded to guide external students. London's Degree of Commerce will not be confined to those Who ar e fortunate enough to be able to afford three years intensive training. Lectures and examinations will be open to those who can only afford part tlme f and special efforts are being made to meet the heeds of those who are prevented from attending lectures. Every avenue will be open to the industrious worker who wishes to study at home for the degree, and improv c his position by evening work. It will provide a magnificent opportunity to Lire mar already in business •vho is willing; to devote three years' spare time work to improving his position. Employers who are interested in the efficiency of their employees would do well to consider how far they can help them by allowing them a little more spare time during the period of their studies. WOMEN ELIGIBLE. An important feature diVthe proposal is the fact that women'will be eligible for the degree. Women in the past have entered business with i little or no practical training. However difficult conditions may be at present, there can be no doubt that the future holds excellent prospects for well-trained and educated women in business, but if they are to compete with men they must produce the same qualifications of training and experience. London must give its whole support to this scheme. There was never a time more urgent in the history of British industry; never a time when it was more imperative to place every ounce of brain and knowledge into the scale which is being so heavily weighted down on the other side by our competitors. It is not too much to say that the future of this country depends on the training of our future men of business. We have seen the marvellous results .that have been produced in America. We cannot afford to neglect this lesson. We must train to produce, and train better to produce more than our competitors. In the past we have been a nation of amateurs; in the future we must make ourselves a nation of experts.