Elevating the performance of co-operative enterprises through customized business education and research \

WHAT'S IN STORE?

  • Experiencing co-operative excellence in Mondragón
  • Co-operatives and the Sustainable Development Goals (UN)
  • It's a wrap! Executive Education for fall 2019
  • ICA working towards global accounting standards for co-operatives
  • Workshop by faculty and graduates ranked top ten session at World Credit Union Conference
EXPERIENCING MONDRAGON 

This October, Master's students, faculty and co-operative practitioners spent 10 days exploring Mondragón, Spain: a region known as a mecca of co-operative economics. Mondragón is the largest worker-owned co-operative network in the world spanning retail, industrial, finance and knowledge sectors. While in Mondragón, participants connected with c o-operatives , spoke with their  leaders , engaged in critical dialogue and learned about tangible examples of how to amplify  co-operative  economics. This year, the tour was co-led by Marcela Viet a as the lead instructor and Karen Miner,  joined by 24 co-operative professionals from the USA and Canada.
 
Participants in 2o19 tour to Mondragón

This tour is an essential component of our Master's program. Non-student spots are available for people who want to pursue this as a standalone experience. Our International Study Tours rotate each year between Mondragón and Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Registration is now open for the study tour to Emilia-Romagna offered from October 25 to November 5, 2020.
Learn more here.

"The visit to Mondragón was nothing short of transformational. It was extremely inspiring from both a business/strategy perspective and a social development perspective. It's mostly the way they are so confident in their model and purpose. Mondragón is not without it's problems, but it owns them and is not afraid to speak to the issues. It was this confidence and transparency that really allowed the opportunity to learn. Democracy is complicated. I feel like I figured a lot of things out personally and professionally. I'm still buzzing!" 
  - Aaron Russin (Assiniboine Credit Union), second year Master's student and study tour participant
 
Beautiful country in Mondragón photographed by Anne Caraan ; second year Master's student (Vancity Credit Union)

Mondragon 2019
Video: Mondragón by Anne Carann
CO-OPERATIVES & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 

Transformation towards a sustainable society, economy and natural environment is an urgent, global need. From runaway climate change to ecological overshoot to rising global inequality and corporate concentration - few would deny human and ecological systems are under severe stress.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are espoused as a global blueprint for sustainable development, requiring a departure from business-as-usual. 

We know that co-operatives have a role to play in ushering in this new era.  As values-based businesses that address structural determinants of health and well being for members and local communities, co-operatives are well suited to take action on the SDGs. Our International Centre for Co-operative Management ( ICCM) is committed to co-operative education, research and knowledge dissemination on the role of co-operatives and the SDGs. 
 

NEW JOURNAL ARTICLE ON CO-OPERATIVES AND SDGs
 
Karen Miner and Sonja Novkovic co-authored "Power in Purpose: Co-operatives and the Sustainable Development Goals" (2019) which was recently published in the Co-operative Business Journal. Miner and Novkovic argue that the SDGs are a framework to reinvigorate the co-operative difference; as a call to action and a lens through which impact can be understood, implemented and measured. A digital version of the journal should be available soon here.  
 
NCBA-CLUSA's 2019 CO-OP IMPACT CONFERENCE: EXPERT PANEL
 
Miner and Novkovic contributed to an Expert Panel on Co-operatives and the SDGs as part of NCBA-CLUSA's 3rd annual Co-operative IMPACT Conference (October 2-4). They were joined by Carla Decker (DC Credit Union) and Martin Lowery (NRECA). The conference drew nearly 400 participants from a diverse cross section of co-operative executives, financiers, researchers, policy makers, community and city leaders committed to deepening and growing the co-operative sector for a new economy.

Karen Miner, Sonja Novkovic, Carla Decker and Martin Lowery at Expert Panel on Co-ops and SDGs

CANADA CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION: JUNE 7-12th, 2020, HALIFAX, NS

We host an international leadership program for credit union professionals focused on sharing and deepening credit union knowledge and practice, and elevating the model to create positive impact for members and communities. The program focuses on synergies between the co-operative model and the SDGs, and how to operationalize the goals in credit unions as a differentiator for CUs. 

CanadaDE will be offered in June, 2020 in Halifax, NS at Saint Mary's University. Registration is now open!  Register before December 1, 2019 for an early bird discount * 


APPLICATIONS OPEN! 
  
2019 Class of Master's in Co-operative Management at Orientation

Online, part-time  programs for co-operative and credit union professionals:
- Master of Management, Co-operatives and Credit Unions (3 years)
- Graduate Diploma in Co-operative Management (20 months)
- Certificate in Co-operative Management (10 months)

Join a growing network of leading co-operative practitioners, educators and academics from around the world. Experience education in a co-operative learning environment. Deepen your understanding of the co-operative business model and develop tools to maximize it's impact and your leadership performance. 

Apply now to start in August, 2020!

Visit our website or contact Erin Hancock for more information.
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION - FALL 2019

We were thrilled to collaborate with NCBA-CLUSA to offer a pre-conference session (October 1, Washington, DC) leading up to the 2019 Co-operative Impact Conference on "Excellence in          Co-operative Leadership and Management". The session drew more than 60 attendees to NCBA-CLUSA headquarters. 

We also teamed up with the Neighboring Food Co-op Association to offer an intensive professional development training October 24-25 in Greenfield, MA: "Enhancing Business Performance through Co-operative Management:  Strengthening Identity, Loyalty and Participation."  
 
Many thanks to our partners for  helping  to bring these courses into fruition and keeping the co-op economy thriving! 
Learn more about our executive education courses. 
 
Instructor Daniel Côté at Executive Education in Greenfield, MA.

RANKED AMONG TOP TEN SESSIONS: WCUC

At the World Credit Union Conference in the Bahamas, CanadaDE facilitators and mentors (see above for more details on this program) - Karen Miner (ICCM), Tracey Kliesch (Vancity) and Cory Munden (Leading Edge Credit Union) - offered a dynamic session on creating a values-based credit union business model. The conference drew credit union leaders from 55 countries.  We are pleased to share that the session was  rated one of the Top Ten sessions at this year's conference!

Cory Munden and Tracey Kliesch presenting at WCUC
HUNGRY FOR MORE INFORMATION?

There are so many ways to engage with ICCM! Join us for a online informational webinar to learn more about our programs and opportunities from the comfort of your office.

The next sessions will take place  November 18, 2019 at 12PM EST ( register here) and December 11, 2019 at 12PM EST ( register here).

WWW.MANAGEMENTSTUDIES.COOP
NEWS FLASH
>> In a recent article, Nigel Mohammed (Assiniboine Credit Union) shared his experience achieving the esteemed I-CUDE designation, which he was awarded at the World Council of Credit Unions conference in the Bahamas. Nigel is a CanadaDE graduate and program mentor. 

>>We are excited to see this great resource produced by The Co-operators  on "Easy ways to live a greener, more sustainable life" . The Co-operators are living their values of supporting people, planet and financial wellness - and supporting their members in doing the same!

>> Round Sky Solutions co-operative collaborated with Loomio to produce this fabulous free step-by-step guide for better collective decision making using Loomio's Integrative Consent tool. Check it out here.

>> Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada (CMC) is now accepting applications for the three  CASC  scholarships administered by CMC: applications are due March 30 , 2020. Click here for more information.

Elevating the performance of co-operative enterprises through customized business education and research