Policy, principle, and practice: co-operative 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
• Introduction• Project details• Policy, principle and practice• Co-op studies framework• Opportunities and barriers• Priorities• Conclusion
Introduction
Despite the wide-ranging successes of co-operatives, 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 co-operative 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)
1. Market research2. Seek expert advice3. Benchmark4. Quality control5. Offer added value – a solution6. Marketing7. Feedback, lessons log, and embedding
knowledge
Framework
Action-Orientations Creation Transformation Integration
Research Knowledge • Co-operative research centres
• Critical / applied / action research
• Coop articles, books, cases, materials
Curricula & Awards • New curricula and awards
• Redesign curricula and assessment
• Update courses and content
Learning & Teaching Develop co-operative andragogy / transformative learning strategies
• Existing pedagogies
Coop Ownership and Governance
• New co-operative business schools / universities
• Convert to coop ownership / governance
• Democratise decision-making
Social Inclusion • Lifelong learning• Open membership
• Paradigm shifting knowledge transfer projects
• Existing knowledge transfer
Support Networks As context dictates
More radical More conservative
Know
ledg
ebas
eSo
cial
Cap
ital
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 interestResurgence?Short timeframePromotional work
www.abdn.ac.uk/[email protected]