16 JULY 1932, Page 32

AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT.

The London School of Economics has rendered good service since its foundation by increasing the number of students who leave the school with a real working knowledge of the princi- ples of up-to-date political economy. The directors I think, are now to be commended for the recent departure in the direction of giving to students a training in practical business affairs. A special Department, known as the Depart. ment of Business. Administration, was established in 1930 at the School through the joint efforts of leading business firms and the School authorities. Financed mainly by business men, this Department has been training twelve students in a full-time specialized business course, while a further fifteen students started its preliminary economic course given mainly in the evenings. I understand that, before being admitted to the course, successful students had to pass a severe inspection. Five were nominated for full-time study, and another six for evening work, by firms which subscribed a certain sum to the Department's funds. Sixteen were chosen from a large number of independent applicants, while all had to satisfy a Selection Committee composed of business and academic representatives that they were likely to profit by the course. All of these students, I understand, possessed high educational qualifica- tions ; one was a chartered accountant, and fourteen had University degrees.