“Education, Training, and Information” is a basic Principle of the Co-operative Movement, equipping people to not only support successful, community-based businesses but also to transform the economy.
Professor Daniel Côté delivering a lecture for our Executive Education Course, “Enhancing Business Performance through Co-operative Management Practices”.
Access to education is crucial to an understanding of the Co-operative Values and Principles and how they contribute to business success. Toward this end, the NFCA is a member of the Co-operative Management Education Co-operative (CMEC) and works with the International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary’s University and other partners to make trainings, workshops, and other resources available to leaders in our region and beyond. Examples have included sessions on “Operationalizing the Co-operative Identity,” “Co-operation among Co-ops,” and “Member-Centric Management & Governance.”
Recognizing that information on co-operative enterprise is largely absent from undergraduate education, we also partnered with the Economics Department at UMass Amherst and the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops to develop a Certificate in Applied Research on Co-operative Enterprise.
In collaboration with the National Farmers Union and the Cooperative Development Foundation, we developed a webinar series to make information on the Co-operative Movement more readily available to co-op members, directors, and staff, and to the general public.
Click on the links below for more information on our work, including:
International Centre for Co-operative Management
The NFCA works closely with the International Centre for Co-operative Management (ICCM) at Saint Mary’s University to provide education and research on co-operative enterprise. Opportunities include Masters and Graduate Diplomas in Co-operative and Credit Union Management, Certificate programs, and short courses.
Certificate in Applied Research on Co-operative Enterprise
The NFCA worked with the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops and the Department of Economics at UMass Amherst to develop the Certificate in Applied Research on Co-operative Enterprise, offering undergraduates the opportunity for field-based research internships with co-operative enterprises.
Co-op Education Webinar Series
In response to requests for educational resources on the co-operative movement for co-op directors and employees, the NFCA developed our Co-operative Education Webinar Series in collaboration the National Farmers Union. Thanks to the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) for supporting this project.
Presentations & Education
On the NFCA’s Presentations and Education page, you can find resources on a broad range of topics from co-operative history, business practices, and impact.
Co-ops: The Business of Teamwork
The NFCA worked with the Farmers Union to develop this resource for the first International Year of Co-operatives in 2012. Co-operatives: The Business of Teamwork includes resources and activities for students of all ages – from preschool to adult – on the co-operative business model.
The Co-operative Education Fund
The NFCA supports Cooperative Development Foundation’s Cooperative Education Fund through our annual “Neighboring Co-operator Award.” You can also support co-operative research, education events, scholarships, and programs by giving to the Fund.
These programs and activities are supported by the member co-ops of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA), with the additional support of these partner organizations.
