What was the name of McDonald's training center founded in 1961?

McDonald's training center founded in 1961 was called Hamburger University.

McDonald's established Hamburger University to train restaurant managers and develop consistent operating practices as the chain expanded. The institution helped teach restaurant procedures, leadership, food preparation, service, and business management.

Its name uses the word “hamburger” in a playful McDonald's style, but the organization is a real professional training center rather than an advertising character or fictional location. That distinction is useful because McDonald's branding history includes both real corporate institutions and imaginary worlds such as McDonaldland.

Hamburger University became part of the company's broader effort to make restaurants operate consistently across markets. Training was especially important as franchising turned McDonald's from a small regional business into an international chain.