This course is an introduction to cooperative enterprises, their potential and challenges. It aims to build students’ appreciation of cooperatives as a practical model for both economic and social development. Students become aware of cooperative enterprises and cooperative networks at the national and international levels. The course will deal with governance, accounting, personnel, and marketing practices and how these can or should be adapted to fit the cooperative enterprise model. A combination of lectures, readings, case studies and discussion will help students develop a thorough understanding of cooperative principles and values as well as the history of co-ops. If possible, guest speakers from the local area will be invited to class. By the end of the course students should be able to:
Exhibit knowledge of cooperative enterprise models as it exists locally, nationally, and internationally;
Apply the understanding of cooperatives’ values and principles to the management of cooperative enterprises in various sectors and typologies; and
Evaluate factors that create an enabling and sound environment for cooperatives and similar enterprises.
The main textbook for this course is Sanchez, Bajo C. and, Roelants, B. (paperback 2013 edition) "Capital and the debt trap: Learning from cooperatives in the global crisis," Palgrave Macmillan. Additional material will be announced consisting of some classic but mostly recent articles available electronically or downloadable.