  ashridge business school is an independent, non-profit making organisation, near berkhamsted in hertfordshire, england. its activities include open and tailored executive education programmes, mba, msc and diploma qualifications, organisation consulting, applied research and online learning. ashridge works with private and public organisations from around the world. it is based at ashridge house, one of the largest gothic revival country houses in england. ashridge business school is a grade 1 listed building. ==history== thumb|right the college was conceived at ashridge house in 1921 when the house was acquired by a trust established by andrew bonar law, a former prime minister; in 1929 it became a "college of citizenship" established to help the conservative party develop its intellectual forces in struggles with left-wing organisations such as the fabian society. it became a cross between a think-tank and a training centre and had arthur bryant as its educational adviser. after the war the "college of citizenship" was briefly re-launched but in 1959 it was re-launched again as a college to provide management training. ==academic performance== in the financial times rankings (may 2014) for custom and open programmes, ashridge was ranked in the top 25 (23rd) in the world.bigger and better: the 2014 ranking ashridge is the only uk specialist business school with degree awarding powers, giving it the equivalent status to a university
1959_establishments_in_England Ashridge Berkhamsted Business_schools_in_England Charities_based_in_Hertfordshire Dacorum Educational_institutions_established_in_1959 Gardens_by_Capability_Brown Gardens_in_Hertfordshire Gothic_Revival_architecture_in_Hertfordshire Grade_I_listed_buildings_in_Hertfordshire Grade_I_listed_houses History_of_Hertfordshire Houses_in_Hertfordshire