ENROLMENTS are booming at Bolton Business School.

With more than 20 academic staff and nearly 2,000 students, the School - the Faculty of Business at Bolton Institute - is now larger than most university business schools.

Professor Alan Kitson, Dean of the School, told Advisory Council members that applications for next year's courses have reached a new high.

He outlined recent developments, including distance learning degree programmes.

The Business School already has arrangements with major educational institutions in Hong Kong and Singapore, enabling Far East students to study for Bolton's degree courses in their own countries. Professor Kitson told the Council that a new distance learning link had now been established with a major Malysian academic institution and there were plans to expand the project into parts of mainland China.

He also reported a lot of national and international interest in the Master of Business Administration programme which the school has developed specifically to meet the needs of local small businesses.

"The Minister for Small Businesses has met with us to discuss it," Professor Kitson said.

Also, the School's research work had been assessed by dons from other universities as being of national standard.

Professor Kitson said: "This was a nationwide survey carried out on all the universities in the country.

"We increased our grading and we are proud of our achievements."

Mr Frank Coucill of Vernacare, who chaired the Advisory Council meeting, said afterwards: "We are very pleased with the way this dynamic and forward-looking business school is developing.

"But we also know that it will not be resting on its laurels.

"The School is ambitious and we are happy to play a part in its development."

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