What was the name of McDonald's university founded in 1961 to train its franchisees?

Hamburger University is the McDonald's training institution founded in 1961.

McDonald's created Hamburger University to teach restaurant operations, management, food safety, and company standards to franchisees and employees. Its founding reflected the importance of consistent procedures as the chain expanded.

The university became part of McDonald's broader branding and business culture. Training helped restaurants deliver a similar experience across locations, even as the company entered new cities and countries.

Despite its playful name, Hamburger University is a professional corporate training program rather than an ordinary academic university. It is also distinct from the McDonald's corporate headquarters and from individual franchise training courses.