Business Administration in Sweden

The academic subject of Business Administration was first introduced in Sweden when Stockholm School of Economics was founded in 1909. Marcus Wallenberg played an important role in the early days of the School of Economics. At that time the subject was known as Commercial Studies and it focused mainly on accounting. The School of Economics in Gothenburg was founded in 1923, and by the end of the 1950s there were also Business Administration departments at Uppsala and Lund Universities.

A modest start in the 50s

SBS had a modest start in the end of the 1950s at the University College of Stockholm (upgraded to Stockholm University in 1960). Teaching was offered through an arrangement with the Stockholm School of Economics. It consisted of a half term course that combined Accounting and Statistics with a basic course in Business Administration.  This was followed by studies in Accounting and Finance, Management Accounting, Administration, and Marketing. Studies for higher levels than two semesters were not possible until 1966 after the appointment of the first professor, Bertil Näslund.

Towards independence as a separate department

In 1960 Stockholm University College recieved university status and became Stockholm University. Two years later SBS became an independent department at the university. Two people in particular were of great significance during the establishment of Stockholm Business School as a department of Stockholm University; Professor Gerhard Törnquist and Professor T. Paulsson Frenckner. The latter became responsible for both the organisation and the administration of the School’s activities during the first few years. In a University memorial publication from 1967 this is confirmed:

”During the eight years that followed the introduction of Business Administration at the Stockholm University College/University the organisation and the full responsibility for teaching and examination fell on the School of Economics professor Paulsson Frenckner, who took on this burden due to his own personal interest. The University is very grateful for all of his efforts in this regard”.

Facilities through the years 

In 1962 SBS moved into its first premises at Fredsgatan 10. The building, which had only one lecture hall and around a dozen rooms, was destined for demolition and the School left the 850 square meter venue in June 1964 and instead moved into an apartment with seven rooms on Upplandsgatan 32.  In January the following year the department moved again, this time to facilities on Hagagatan 23 where it remained until the summer of 1970 when space became available in the South buildings of Frescati. Finally, in the year 2000, SBS could move into the Veterinary College’s old but restored buildings in Kräftriket, beautifully located in Brunnsviken.  The department has remained in this location and has developed into one of Northern Europe’s largest teaching departments.