Professor John Machin, one of the founding members of Durham University Business School (DUBS), was joined by students past and present on Saturday 11 April at the Mill Hill Lane to begin celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the School. He brought along one of the original brochures for the very first course in modern management techniques which ran in Easter 1965.
Alumni travelled from across the globe, including Nigeria, Barbados, Malaysia, Ghana and Canada, to meet up with their classmates. They were impressed by the new facilities provided by the 2013 refurbishment of the School. It was clear that the school had expanded significantly since many of the graduates studied here. Alumni from the 1980s had lectures in the then library. Some alumni even pre-dated the original 1970s Mill Hill Lane building, recalling a much less formal approach to their studies.
and Dr Rob McMurray warned of Toxic Management. Dr Rebecca Stratling’s thoughts on Corporate Governance were particularly valued by an alumnus who now chairs a major pension fund. Feedback from the alumni made clear how much they had appreciated the opportunity to step back from their immediate concerns and engage with the broader issues as, mirroring the time they studied here. Lorraine Ellison who gained her MBA from DUBS in 2011 reflected on the morning as, “Thought provoking sessions and an excellent chance to get to know other alumni.”
In his address, the current Dean, Professor Rob Dixon, paid tribute to the School’s four founders, Alan Odber, Charles Baker, John Constable and John Machin, who had the vision that created the institution that continues to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges. He thanked alumni for the continuing support they provide through mentoring, introductions and funding and stressed that they play a crucial role in the ongoing development of the School.
Tony Brook (MBA, 1970) saw the seat in lecture theatre 403 that he had funded through the Take Your Seat campaign. He said, “Durham has contributed a lot to me. It helped me to be able to focus on the things I really wanted and to be clear about what my objectives were and to work in the best way to achieve it.”
The weekend provided an opportunity for graduates to hear some of the School’s current research through attending a series of masterclasses. Professor Kiran Fernandes gave an insight into Big Data: Your Organisation’s Strategic Weapon, while Professor Geoff Moore updated them on developments in Business Ethics
It was clear that other graduates were also reminiscing about the significance of their time at the School. Killick Datta (MSc Management Studies, 1982) launched Nike in Europe as a result of a conversation with Brendan Foster in the School’s Library. He is now CEO of International Brand partners and came from Singapore for the weekend. He said, “I had lost touch with most of my classmates, moved continents, but it is just a wonderful feeling to come back. I wouldn’t have been in this industry if it