A DEGREE IN COMMERCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 307, 23 September 1919, Page 5

A DEGREE IN COMMERCE

WHAT IT WILL MEAN TO INDUSTRY

THE BATTLES OF BUSINESS

(By Sir Herbert. Morgan, K. 8.8., in theLondon "Observer.")

For many years business men have been urging the necessity of establishing an adequate system of commercial education in this country. They live rpyrdrd wi'h a certain npprehension the strides made by our rivals in this matter and recognised that flic great success of our competitors has depended largely on superior training. At the risk of labouring the obvious it must be insisted that the whole nf our success as a commercial nation rests on our educational system.. The buttles of business are fought with wits un'd knowledge. Man to man wo must be as well trained, as n'.ert to opportunity .ind as sensitive to modern conditions as our rftals. Otherwise we shall undoubtedly lose that commercial supremacy which, .but .u few years ago no country m the world could assail. The University of London has laid before the " business community and the country a proposal to establish a Degree jof 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 I to the present been under some reproach J in its riegleat of commercial training, but .Jthi> present is .a' timo of reconstruction and reform. The University, instead of lui telling a curriculum in tlie obscurity of its academip councils, has brought its proposals to the business world for criticism and advice. Committees composed of the leading men in many industries j have been appointed who have reported lon their speciai needs. The "Kinsfu 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 susw?tioni have been incorporated in tho general (scheme, and the result is a curriculum which will be of the highest practical value to the business men of tho 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 more general course. We are essentially a commercial people, but wo cannot atFord to make so great a shibboleth of technical training that a training in general culture is altogether neglected. Employers to-day are finding verf grave difficulties in the matter of recruiting for the higher ranks of their business. They .are jimindated daily with applicants who, having no special training or experience, are unwilling, mairy of them, to start on the bottom rung of the ladder and learn the business in the practical school. There appears to bo an idea abroad that administrative positions can be secured without any knowledge of the technical matters wliicli they control. The truth is, of course* that a very detailed know: ledgo of technique is necessary to all successful administration. We may now look forward to a time when the 'employer, will be ablo to turn with confidence to a practical source of highly trained and expeVt 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 he secured unless tho closest touch is kept between commercial London and the University. Arrangements have happily bt'eii made to establish pormanent committees, jointly composed of University , officials and men of business, to act.in an advisory capacity. This step is undoubtedly of tho highest importance, for the degree must be always B\\b]ect 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 ore a 'hundred ways in which they can help, by giving practical support to the fund which is beine; raised to endow tho degree, by assisting in building up a body of commercial literature which is. one of the projects in hand,' and by keeping always in touch with the External Bureau, which is being founded to guido external students. Loiuton'a Degree of Commerce will not be confined to those who are fortunate enough to be able to afford three years' intensive training. Lectures and examinations wiil bo open to those who can only afford part time, and special efforts are being made to meet the needs of those who are prevented from attending lectures." Every avenue will be open to the industrious worker who wishes to 6tudy at homo for the degree, and improve his position by evening work. It will provide a magnificent opportunity to the man already in business who is willing to devote three years' spare time I work to improving hie •position. Employers who are interested in the efficiency of their employees would 'lo well to consider 'how far they can help them ;by allowing them a little- more spare time duriug the period of their studies. Women Eligible, An important feature , , of the proposal is the fact that women will .be eligible for the degree, \ Women In the past have j entered business with ttUle or no prnoI tical training. However, difficult conHt- ! tions may be at present, there can bi> I no doubt lihat tha future holds excellent \. prospects for weff-friuUed and educated ! women in business, but if iTiey are to ' compete with men they must produce the ; same qualifications of training and experience. ; London must give its whole- support tu ' this fioheme. There was neVer a Urn? more urgent in the history »f Briiich ini jlustry; never a time wihen. It was more ! imperative to place every oniim of brain . and knowledge into the oca'.e vrnich w i being so heavily weighed flown on tho ; other sido by our competitors. It is not ' too much to say that tlic future of t)iW country depends oii tho' training of our ; future men of bnsTiMss. Wo 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 I more than our competitors. In tno past we Jiave been a nation..o? amateurs; in the , future we must make ourselves a nation of experts. ,