The Institute of Local Government Studies at Birmingham University
| Date | 01 January 1968 |
| Published date | 01 January 1968 |
| Author | Henry Maddick,Gael Heller |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1968.tb00321.x |
The Institute of Local Government
Studies at Birmingham University
by HENRY
MADDICK
&GAEL
HELLER
Mr. Maddick is Director and Mrs. Heller on the staff of the Institute of Local
Government Studies at Birmingham University.
To quote the resolution
of
the Senate, the Institute of Local Government
Studies at the University of Birmingham was established in order to "
...
foster
research in local government administration at home and abroad, to build up
adocumentation centre and library, provide such advisory service to govern-
ments, authorities and academic institutions as its resources will permit, to
offer special courses to those engaged in teaching
and/or
practice of local
administration and government, and to develop a school of graduate studies
and promote in every way possible the academic study of this field and its
problems". This is the foundation upon which the latter structure has been
and is being built.
Two years later it became part
of
the University Department of Local
Government and Administration - believed to be the only University depart-
ment in Europe to concentrate on teaching and research in localgovernment.
The
creation of this department and the recent extension
of
the Institute's
activities suggest that local government will in future receive more recognition
as an academic subject and will be no longer dependent upon the number
of
staff in the departments of Politics nor upon changes in the fashion of research.
The
Birmingham Institute
of
Local Government Studies was established in
1963and the next year saw the start of its training activities with an advanced
practical course on local administration for high level administrators from
overseas.
Since its first training programme was for those from developing countries
the University sought and obtained support from the Ministry
of
Overseas
Development (then the Department of Technical Co-operation). Funds to
meet the preliminary expenses
of
the first nine months and a guarantee
of
a
minimum annual fee income was provided by the Ministry.
The
University
allocated two senior posts, contrived to make available accommodation (almost
the scarcest commodity today) and to service the Institute administratively.
For
other posts, administrative staff and overheads the Institute has to look to
its fee income.
The
Institute based on the University of Birmingham campus thus became
the centre in Britain for the orientation, training and supervision of those from
overseas whom their governments wished to send for the study of local
government.
The
bi-annual practical courses each of four months, for overseas adminis-
trators, are designed to provide a combination
of
seminars, lectures and dis-
cussions in the University, and practical attachments to local authorities.
321
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