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You will have read in last month's issue that I have taken over from Tom Coffin as Director of Administration. As you can probably imagine, it was with some trepidation that I sat down to write my first edition of ABE News. However my primary duty is quite clear; this is to thank Tom Coffin very sincerely on behalf of all members for everything that he has done for the Association during his time as Director of Administration. I know you would like to wish him a very long and happy retirement. I am sure that he won't mind my recording the fact that this is his third and, as he himself put it, hopefully his final retirement.

The ABE Space Shuttle Visitors to our offices at 3 Station Parade will be pleased to know that negotiations are well in hand for ABE to take over the first and second floors of the building. Their pleasure will be nothing as great as that of the members of staff who, with the phenomenal growth of ABE, have been hard put to it to find room to breathe, let alone work. Those visitors who have suffered from oxygen deficiency by the time they have climbed 56 steps will also be delighted to find our reception offices on a lower floor.

I have been receiving recently quite a number of enquiries from members regarding the Advanced Diploma, examinations for which will be held for the first time in June 1981. Our new handbook describes the Advanced Diploma as a qualification in its own right, which will provide holders of the Diploma with an opportunity to undertake specialist studies in those disciplines which will further their prospects of advancement in their chosen careers. This implies, of course, that the Advanced Diploma will be looked upon as a prestige qualification, entry to which will be restricted to members of ABE, and an opportunity for such members to prove that the ABE examination structure is designed not simply to produce certificates to hang on walls but to bring into the management scene a body of dedicated managers who can display through their on‐the‐job performance that they have a blend of educational knowledge and practical expertise of which they can be justly proud.

An article on a survey carried out in the USA some years ago indicated the following reasons why businessman “went bust”, “folded up” or “ceased to trade”.

It was the German poet Goethe who once said: Nothing is as terrifying as ignorance in motion. It is pleasant, therefore, to note the maintenance of overall standards in the results of the December 1979 examinations — and the very great improvement in the results of the Accounting & Finance examination. When recording the June 1979 results, I did refer to the possibility that the course content of that particular subject might be spread over two examination papers instead of one. After careful study of the syllabus content it was decided that this split was not justified. The decision was proved to be correct by the increase in the pass rate in that particular subject from 24% in June 1979 to 48% in December 1979, which seems to be an indication of the realisation of all concerned of the need for more careful preparation in Accounting & Finance since the standard at which the examination paper was set remained unchanged.

ABE offers the mature and well‐experienced manager the option of submitting a thesis when applying for membership. This option is not applicable as an easy way for students and licentiates to avoid sitting our examinations. To answer a query which we receive from time to time, it is not possible to present a diesis instead of sitting the examination in a specific subject.

We have great pleasure in announcing the appointment — for a two‐year period — of Professor Gerry Fowler as President of ABE. As a former Minister of State at the Department of Education & Science in the last government, nobody could be better qualified for the position, and Gerry has been a good friend of the Association — and of Education & Training to which he is a regular contributor. Although he is well known to most of our readers, it is nevertheless hoped to include a Profile at an early date.

In this issue we go almost to the two extremes of the alphabet — from Bahrain to Zimbabwe — with interest‐ing reports from Geoffrey Goldie (Member) and Ray Folcarelli (Member), which demonstrate very clearly the value of the ABE Courses on a world wide basis — or nearly so. All we need now is an active branch in Australia to complete our A to Z.

At the time of going to press, Director General Walter Balmford is on an extensive overseas tour, from mid‐November to mid‐December, to further the development of ABE in Asia. He is visiting the following countries and will, of course, be contacting local members and students as well as would‐be members of all grades:

This year showed a healthy increase in student registrations of which there were 3,230. 20 Licentiates were awarded Associate Membership. 220 other applicants were awarded Associate Membership, and 9 Membership.