"A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a 'co-op' and sometimes known as a work study program, provides academic credit for structured job experience."
This field deals with the historical development of cooperative movements worldwide, including the emergence of cooperative economics and the contributions of key figures in the cooperative movement.
Historical Context: Understanding the social, political, and economic conditions that led to the formation of cooperatives, particularly in the context of their emergence during the Industrial Revolution.
Principles and Values: Familiarization with the guiding principles and values that underlie the cooperative movement, namely democratic control, member participation, education, social responsibility, and economic fairness.
Co-operative Theory: Studying the theoretical frameworks that have shaped the cooperative movement over time, including Rochdale principles, cooperative federalism, and social economy theory.
Founding Pioneers: Learning about the early pioneers and key figures in the cooperative movement, including Robert Owen, William King, and the Rochdale Pioneers.
Evolution of Cooperatives: Examining the evolution of the cooperative movement, from the earliest agricultural and consumer cooperatives to the growth of modern worker-owned cooperatives and multi-stakeholder cooperatives.
Cooperative Business Models: Understanding the various business models that cooperatives utilize, such as worker-owned, consumer-owned, producer-owned, and hybrid models, as well as understanding how these models operate differently than traditional, capitalist enterprises.
Co-operative Legal Structures: Reviewing the legal structures available to cooperatives, such as the cooperative corporation or co-operative association laws, and understanding how these structures differ from traditional corporate law.
International Cooperative Movement: Examining the development of the cooperative movement around the world, including notable examples in countries like Italy, Spain, Japan, and the United States.
Sectoral and Thematic Cooperatives: Investigating the variety of types of cooperatives, including healthcare, agriculture, energy, finance, and housing co-operatives, and the particular challenges that these types of co-operatives face.
Challenges and Opportunities: Understanding the challenges and opportunities facing cooperatives today, and considering potential strategies for growth and success in the future.
Producer cooperatives: These are cooperatives made up of producers who come together to market their products collectively, with the aim of achieving economies of scale in terms of production, marketing and distribution.
Consumer cooperatives: These are cooperatives owned and controlled by their members who buy goods or services from them, with the aim of reducing prices and improving the quality of goods and services.
Worker cooperatives: These are cooperatives made up of employees who own and manage their businesses, with the aim of sharing profits, making decisions democratically and improving their working conditions.
Housing cooperatives: These are cooperatives made up of residents who collectively own and manage their housing units, with the aim of providing affordable and decent housing.
Credit unions: These are cooperatives that offer financial services to their members, such as savings and loans, with the aim of providing an alternative to commercial banks.
Service cooperatives: These are cooperatives that offer services such as health care, education, insurance, transportation, and utilities to their members.
Agricultural cooperatives: These are cooperatives made up of farmers who come together to share resources, such as equipment, land and seed, with the aim of increasing their productivity and improving their quality of life.
Artisan cooperatives: These are cooperatives made up of artisans who come together to market and sell their crafts collectively, with the aim of increasing their income and preserving their cultural heritage.
"It is taking on new importance in helping young people to make the school-to-work transition."
"It falls under the umbrella of work-integrated learning (alongside internships, service learning and clinical placements)."
"It is distinct, as it alternates a school term with a work term in a structured manner, involves a partnership between the academic institution and the employer, and generally is both paid and intended to advance the education of the student."
"The University of Waterloo operates the largest post-secondary co-op program in the world."
"With nearly 20,000 co-op students enrolled."
"Enrolled over three semesters."
"Enrolled in more than 120 programs."
"A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a 'co-op' and sometimes known as a work study program."
"A cooperative education experience...provides academic credit for structured job experience."
"Generally is both paid..."
"...intended to advance the education of the student."
"It is taking on new importance in helping young people to make the school-to-work transition."
"It falls under the umbrella of work-integrated learning (alongside internships, service learning, and clinical placements), but is distinct..."
"It alternates a school term with a work term in a structured manner..."
"It involves a partnership between the academic institution and the employer."
"...work-integrated learning (alongside internships, service learning, and clinical placements)..."
"It operates the largest post-secondary co-op program in the world."
"...nearly 20,000 co-op students enrolled..."
"Enrolled in more than 120 programs."