|  Théodore
Verhagen founded the
“Université Libre de
Bruxelles” (ULB) on November
20, 1835. It was not, however,
until
1899 that a “Special Diploma
in Social and Political Sciences”
became available to holders of a
university graduate degree. The
department grew
quickly and soon became the School
of Social and Political Sciences,
thanks to the support of the industrialist
Ernest Solvay. A visionary businessman,
Ernest Solvay quickly realised the
importance of the social sciences
in economic life and the need to
provide dedicated university training
in this
field.
In line with his beliefs, Ernest
Solvay presided over the creation
in 1903, within Brussels University,
of a school specialised in economics.
Emile
Waxmeiler was chosen to be the first
Director of the new school,
the Solvay School of Commerce. Initially,
the School offered only one course,
that of “Commercial Engineer”
(lasting three and subsequently four
years), but it was this degree that
built the School’s reputation.
 Ernest
Solvay (1838-1922) was
both a famous industrialist
and a famous scientist.
He was also greatly interested
in other disciplines
such as physiology, social
sciences, philosophy,
sociology… and
of course business. His
involvement in politics
twice led him to take
a seat in the Senate
and towards the end of
his life he was appointed
Minister of State.
His creative mind led
Ernest Solvay to see
parallels between scientific
and social phenomena,
whilst his theories can
be described as “energetics”,
productivity and accountability.
He conceived the idea
of a social structure
based on the organisation
of the labour market,
equality of opportunity
and State involvement.
This public and social
engagement was translated
into extensive patronage.
At the end of the Nineteenth
Century, Ernest Solvay
laid down the principles
for a “City of
science”, to the
great benefit of the
ULB. Solvay’s thinking
meant that such a site
would inevitably include
the study of social phenomena
and this led to a number
of institutions being
founded. Realising that
no university teaching
was available for business,
Solvay proposed to create
a dedicated School of
Commerce and as of 1903,
he provided the necessary
funding to ensure a complete
university course, totally
different from the traditional
studies in economics.
From that moment on,
his intentions have always
been respected.
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From its very creation, the Solvay
School of Commerce was part of the
ULB, with the administrative statute
of School (i.e. not integrated into
a faculty). The School retained this
statute until after the Second World
War, when the Faculty of Economics,
Social and Political Sciences (better
known under its acronym of SOCO)
was created, bringing together a number
of independent schools, including
the Solvay School of Commerce. From
this moment, the School became a part
of the new faculty from an administrative
point of view. At the end of the 1950s,
the School left its historic buildings
in the Parc Léopold and moved
to the Solbosch campus.
The 1960s and 1970s were dedicated
to the School’s development.
1973 saw the inauguration of the first
postgraduate course, foreshadowing
the diversification of taught programmes
that would occur during the 1980s.
The School also created a fifth year
for its Commercial Engineer Degree,
further extending the range and quality
of its diplomas. During the 1980s
the number of students entering undergraduate
and postgraduate courses increased
significantly, with postgraduate courses
now numbering eight, as against only
one ten years earlier. The 1990s were
marked by the internationalisation
of the School, with the inauguration
of exchange programmes, the creation
of an MBA course, the development
of teaching programmes in Asia and
our participation in the AMSEC network
(the Alliance of Management Schools
in European Capitals).
A hundred years after the industrialist
Ernest Solvay had created the School
and more than 10,000 graduates later,
it was re-named the Solvay Business
School.
Today we have some 2,000 students.
In addition to courses in finance
and management, the Solvay Business
School offers some twenty Executive
Education programmes and has agreements
with more than 50 internationally
recognised universities. The School
continues to develop, thanks partly
to patronage and corporate sponsorship,
which have also enabled the School
to create additional Chairs of teaching.
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