The £4.3 million redevelopment of an original RAF building on the Cranfield University site into a state-of-the-art research centre housing 100 staff brings together the School of Management’s research and doctoral programmes under one roof.
School of Management director Professor Michael Osbaldeston said: "This is a very important new building for us, as it puts in place a world-class research facility to complement the school’s existing superb resources for postgraduate teaching and executive education."
During her visit, the Princess Royal toured the new building meeting School of Management staff. She was introduced to Nigel Doughty, a Master of Business Administration alumnus who has donated £3million to the School to establish the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility.
The majority of the funding for the Cranfield Management Research Institute was provided by Cranfield University through the Science Research Investment Fund, while the School of Management raised the remaining £430,000 through grants and donations from such bodies as the East of England Development Agency and the Wolfson Foundation.
The Institute will research key management themes such as management knowledge, strategic change, innovation leadership and process excellence.
The building will also house private research, formal areas for meetings and presentations and boasts the latest IT and audio visual equipment such as a ‘cinema’ wall for presentations.
