Mainstreaming Co-operation An Alternative for the 21 st Century? 3 rd – 5 th July 2012

Mapping Co-operative Education Linda Shaw

The starting point A rapidly changing landscape in the UK - especially for education with new spaces and opportunities for co-operatives Need to meet the challenges of the co-operative revival Report on findings from research into co-operative education carried out in 2011 Used a range of research methods used including semi- structured interviews, questionnaires, web research, literature survey Presentation of the headlines from the research – full paper being published in July by College

The research agenda Mapping the providers: co-operatives themselves, movement bodies, higher education, schools sector and others Mapping the nature of the provision – pedagogy, innovation Analysing the issues – feeding into development of the strategic vision for the college

A rich history Multiple meanings and definitions incorporating formal and informal learning processes Strong connections with adult education National framework - albeit a partial one Internationally, education as a driver for co-operative development – Antigonish, Mondragon, Desjardins

Organising education 1919 Co operative College Individual societies Co operative Union Movement bodies eg Womens Guild

Residential programmes and curriculum Classes for members & staff, social activities Exams, lecturers and correspondence courses Classes and social activities

A complex picture today Education, training and information delivered by a growing number and different types of providers Types of provision include information resources, one-day workshops, longer accredited programmes and competency based approaches

Providers include: Sectoral co-operative bodies such as CCH for housing, ABCUL for credit unions, Plunkett, Supporters Direct for football/sport Co-operative Development Bodies Co-operativesUK, the Co-operative College Consumer societies themselves via HR departments and membership teams Other education providers – schools, universities Co-operative and other agencies – Wales Co-op Centre, Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS), consultancies & training agencies

Types of provision Information – Co-operatives Fortnight Start up support and training – mentoring, short workshops, etc – business skills As a feature of conferences – eg workshops CPD programmes – updating expertise professional and co-operative Longer programmes for members and managers – delivered in a number of ways via distance learning, face to face workshops, accredited/non accredited programmes, topics include enterprise skills, governance, soft skills, heritage, international perspectives

Some innovative approaches in co-operative education University sector Co-operative school models Competency based approaches for staff and director training Online and distance learning

The picture today The players Colleges, HRD + co-ops Developers + Their clients The state Universities + Public educational institutions 14

Universities Researching co-operatives stronger than teaching about co-operatives New generation of researchers coming through (a global trend) Fragmented teaching provision – a competitive HE environment A changing research landscape

New co-operative models in education Growing number of co-operative schools Potential models for FE and universities Represents a major shift for co-operative education in the UK

Developing new approaches Competency based approaches – developed by College – eg Group Board Development Centre Developing national standards for Co- operative Development Bodies and for Co-operative Schools

New approaches Online/Virtual Learning Environments – still in their infancy – potential global reach External accreditation for co-operative learners - development of a Europe wide system with wider vocational learning framework

The challenges Fragmentation and duplication – lack of co-ordination Lack of a shared vision for co-operative education (and understanding of it) Much provision is dependent on external and often short term funding, the SME problem in accessing on going training Gap between existing provision and scale of need

The solutions? Build and develop on existing strengths Develop more coherent national progression frameworks and standards with links to vocational as well as higher education Of course, more resources More debate and exchange about education and training Who co-ordinates?

A co-operative alternative? How can we embed co-operative models in research as well as education? Can we develop democratic co- operative models involving participants from all along the research chain?

A co-operative alternative? Building co-operative educational institutions – started with schools- what else? What new types of international connections need to be developed? Shared standards? Online programmes?