It's finally spring and it has been a wonderful start to the year for the School.

Firstly, we are delighted to announce that, following a visit to the Business School in December, we have been successful in obtaining re-accreditation to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). You may be aware that we are one of an elite group of schools worldwide to carry three internationally recognised quality assurances (AASCB, AMBA and EQUIS), a testament to the calibre of the School and an endorsement of the exceptional quality of our programmes. We also eagerly await the decision from the most recent re-accreditation visit, by EQUIS in March.

Secondly, the School received some extremely positive rankings news for both the Full Time and Online MBA programmes. In such a competitive market we are delighted that the Financial Times ranked our Global MBA sixth in the world and our Full-time MBA in the World's Top 100 programmes.

A big focus this year is the countdown to the School's 50th anniversary in 2015. In preparation for this commemoration, which will include a celebration weekend in Durham 10-12 April 2015, we are collecting articles and photos for an online archive. Some ex-staff have already contributed to this anthology. Even if you haven't had chance to visit the School recently, you may be aware of the new, state-of-the-art premises which complement the School's global reputation.

In our latest alumni magazine, two ex-staff: Professor John Machin, former Director of the School (1965–89) and Professor Robin Smith, former MBA Programme Director (1970–91); recount the establishment of Durham University Business School and its early history. Read the full article here (page 8/9).

In this quarterly review we feature some of the School's latest research including: insights into minimum wage increases; the 'dark side' of trust; and the impact of change on the European Police forces.

Also in this issue we look at the difficult job of hiring the right candidate and how as a School we can help provide access to our talented pool of students and alumni.

As usual we have events taking place all over the world in addition to the School's UK based thought leadership programme, the Durham Speaker Series. The upcoming Speaker Series event is a Corporate Forum in London on the 'Future of Energy' which will be jointly hosted by the Durham Energy Institute. We hope you will be able to join us at one of our future events.

Lauren Huntington
Head of Business Development
t. +44 (0)191 334 5417

Tracey Wallis Million
Corporate Relations Manager
t. +44 (0) 191 334 5231

Tracy Donnelly
Project Co-ordinator
t. +44 (0) 191 334 5891

Alexandra McNinch
Alumni Relations Manager
t. +44 (0) 191 334 5421

Katharine Aspey
Alumni Co-ordinator
t. +44 (0)191 334 5277

Georgia Backhouse 
Recruiter Relations Manager
t. +44 (0)191 334 7187

Anne Allen
Major Gifts Officer
t. +44 (0)191 334 7186

Spotlight on...

Minimum wage increases in a recessionary environment

What happens when the minimum wage is increased?

Does it harm those in low-wage sectors and low-wage earners such as teenagers or, as much recent research seems to indicate, leave their employment largely unaffected while improving their earnings? The task of measurement is complicated large number of factors at play in the employment relationship - underscored by minimum wage increases that are often modest in magnitude and implemented in good economic times has complicated the task of measurement. Now a team of academics including Durham's Professor John Addison, have addressed the question: ‘do seemingly large minimum wage increases in an environment of deep recession produce clearer evidence of disemployment than is often observed in the modern minimum wage research?’

Read more.

The Dark Side of Trust: When Trust Becomes a ‘Poisoned Chalice’

What’s Wrong With Trusting Someone?

Trust – it’s a good thing, isn’t it? It’s what we all want: we want to trust other people and we want them to trust us in return. And it’s true that in research, as in life, trust has generally been perceived as positive, except in cases where it turns out to be misplaced. Look a little more closely, though, and all is not as it seems.

A research paper produced by Dr Graham Dietz, together with Denise Skinner and Antoinette Weibel, has taken a closer look at some of the problems of trust. The existing literature has previously seen the negative side of trust as originating from its misplacement by one in the other: getting the trust decision wrong. This paper explores the possibility of deliberate manipulation.

Read more.

International businessman with local roots sponsors DUBS' Corporate Forum event.

Former fighter pilot turned business executive sees the value in bridging the gap between academia and industry.

Dan Robinson, Chairman of Gus Robinson Developments Ltd and Founder of the Gus Robinson Foundation started his career in the Royal Air Force. Following a recent invitation to talk to Durham students about his career and business experiences, Dan decided he wanted to get more involved with the School's activities and consequently, has agreed to sponsor one of the School's Corporate Forum events in London on 22 May. The event which is a platform for the School's research will be jointly hosted by the Durham Energy Institute (DEI) and will present various speakers covering a theme of 'The Future of Energy'. For more information about the Corporate Forum click here.

Read more about Dan's involvement with the School.

Comparative Police Studies in the EU (COMPOSITE)

Across society, change can be positive – or it can be problematic.

While providing huge opportunities for good to be done within the community, it offers increased opportunities for crime. Social changes may generate cultural tensions – and all the time the expectations of individuals and groups evolve.

Against a background of increasing European integration at social and political levels, a key sector affected is that of law and order. This study of ‘Comparative Police Studies in the EU’ (COMPOSITE), is led by principle investigator Professor Laszlo Polos, and considers some of the new challenges facing European police forces in ten different countries.

Read more.

Hiring managers admit that 20 percent of their employees shouldn’t have even been hired in the first place!

How to never regret a hiring decision again.

Recruiters and hiring managers put time and consideration into each person they employ. Guess what? The average interview process has increased from 12 days in 2009 to 23 days in 2013. However, things can be overlooked causing serious regret later. Have you ever thought “What was I thinking?” or “How could I have possibly hired this person?” Well, don’t kick yourself - we can help! As well as promoting graduate level to experienced hire vacancies, our Recruiter Relations Manager, Georgia Backhouse is on hand to help source potential candidates from our extensive pool of commercially aware, high calibre students and alumni interested in UK and international opportunities.

Read the full article.