Policy, principle, and practice: cooperative studies in higher
education
Diarmuid McDonnell (Co-operative Education Trust
Scotland and University of Aberdeen)
Elizabeth Macknight (University of Aberdeen)
Mainstreaming Co-operation
05/07/2012
Outline
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Introduction
Project details
Policy, principle and practice
Co-op studies framework
Opportunities and barriers
Priorities
Conclusion
Introduction
Despite the wide-ranging successes of cooperatives, in financial terms as well as in the
development of sustainable communities, the
study of these democratic forms of enterprise
remains surprisingly absent from the curricula
of most university business schools around
the world.
KTP
Government-sponsored collaboration between
universities and industry; promote
commercialisation of research.
Co-operative Education Trust Scotland
University of Aberdeen
Project purpose
“To promote understanding of co-operative,
mutual, and employee-owned business
models within tertiary education, filling the
current gap and broadening CETS’s offering to
the education sector.”
Policy
Government – skills agenda and economic growth
University of Aberdeen – curricula reform
Scottish education – Curriculum for Excellence
Edinburgh City Council; Mondragón University
Principle
• education, training and information; and
• working together through local, national, regional and
international structures
Development of resources was guided by our concept of cooperative education:
• the study of co-operative models of enterprise;
• researching topics related to co-operative models of
enterprise; and
• the accumulation of knowledge and skills needed to
establish a co-operative.
Practice
Practice (2)
Practice (3)
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2.
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7.
Market research
Seek expert advice
Benchmark
Quality control
Offer added value – a solution
Marketing
Feedback, lessons log, and embedding
knowledge
Framework
More radical
Knowledgebase
Action-Orientations
Research Knowledge
Curricula & Awards
Creation
Social Capital
Social Inclusion
Support Networks
Transformation
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Co-operative
research centres
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Critical / applied /
action research
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New curricula and
awards
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Redesign curricula
and assessment
Develop co-operative andragogy
/ transformative learning strategies
Learning & Teaching
Coop Ownership and
Governance
More conservative
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New co-operative
business schools /
universities
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Lifelong learning
Open membership
Integration
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Coop articles,
books, cases,
materials
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Update courses
and content
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Existing
pedagogies
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Convert to coop
ownership /
governance
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Democratise
decision-making
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Paradigm shifting
knowledge transfer
projects
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Existing knowledge
transfer
As context dictates
Opportunities
1. QAA business and management guidelines
2. Interest in related studies
3. International Year of Co-operatives
4. Focus on enterprise and entrepreneurship
Barriers
1. University marketing departments
2. Exposure and materials
3. Misconceptions and misinformation
4. Dominant ideologies
Priorities
UK Centre for Co-operative Studies
Foundation for Co-operative Education (FCE)
Priorities (2)
Professorial Chair of Co-operative Studies
Co-operative Learning Space
Conclusion
Renewed interest
Resurgence?
Short timeframe
Promotional work
www.abdn.ac.uk/cets
diarmuid@cets.coop