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