The industrial engineering department of ITB recognized the importance of business and management education in Indonesia as early as the 1970s. This idea stayed in the department during the 1980s but was finally realized in 1990 when Prof. Mathias A’roef, a prominent figure in Indonesia in the field of Industrial Engineering, introduced the MBA program at ITB with a concentration in operational management. This, in turn, culminated in the founding of SBM ITB.
In 2002, the Governing Council approved the formation of an undergraduate program in business and management. A team was assigned to develop a vision and mission statement and to design learning methods best suited to the program. The team developed a curriculum which was considered a breakthrough in business and management education in Indonesia. It proposed the use of performance art to develop students’ self-confidence as well as skills in leadership, communication, and conflict resolution. In line with a social constructionist paradigm, the curriculum emphasized the importance of team-based learning as opposed to one-way lecturing. Some of the innovative courses designed by the team were Integrative Business Experience (which was adapted from a course offered at the University of Central Missouri), Management Practice, and Community Service. The team also proposed the use of English as the medium of instruction.
In December 2003, the School of Business and Management was formally established. The nomenclature “School” was chosen instead of “Faculty” to signify its autonomy. In the process, the MBA program which was initially run by the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, became part of the School of Business and Management, allowing it to have two programs; the undergraduate program and the MBA program.
In August 2004, SBM ITB admitted 115 students to the undergraduate program. SBM ITB has experienced continuous growth, and with the support of faculty and professional staff it aims to make a positive contribution to educational development in Indonesia. SBM ITB currently has a student body of 2,221.