FRENCH BUSINESS SCHOOL PROSPERS, DORIOT DECLARES

"The French Centre de Preparation aux Affaires, modelled on the Graduate School of Business Administration, will open this fall with a prestige remarkable for a school in the second year of its existence," Professor G. F. Doriot, who recently returned from France, commented yesterday.

"The Centre," Doriot explained, "has been given a first class rating by the Department of Education, which supervises education throughout France; for a school to receive this distinction so early in its existence is an unprecedented happening, and indicates the high reliance being placed by the government on a studied approach to the conduct of business.

"Like the Harvard Business School, the Centre requires a college degree for admission, but in addition it demands that candidates be graduates of some graduate school such as the Ecole Politique. Thus its students are older than those in the Graduate School of Business Administration; frequently they are 'junior executives'. The standards at the Centre are high. Its enrollment is wisely being limited to 50, though this year there were 120 applications; last year a large number were refused diplomas. Of these who graduated, almost all were booked in advance for important positions, sometimes as vice presidents of corporations.

Cooperate with Germans

"Another development unheralded but of great significance, is the initiation of joint study, by Germans and officials of the Centre, of fields of industry in which the two nations can cooperate: in the railroad, coal, and chemical industries, for example. Premier Laval is wisely encouraging this work. The cordial reception of Bruening and Curtius in Paris, and the pending visit of Laval to Berlin, show that both countries are approaching the political crisis in a sane spirit.

"The Centre is headed by Pierre Dalbouze; like Dean Donham, he has had previous experience in the world of affairs, having served as president of a large federation of French industries.

No Exchange Professors

"The Faculty numbers 12, and there are no exchange professors. French and American methods of doing business differ in so many respects that it would be idle for an American to lecture to French classes. Nevertheless, the Centre offers one course in French and one in German each year, usually a series of lectures by prominent business men; in this way those who profess knowledge of these languages may give proof of their ability.

"Although the two business schools do not exchange professors, there are three American students at the Centre, who by daily contact with other students gain an accurate idea of French business methods."