Ideas for a Co-operative University will be discussed at an information day in Manchester next week, with more than 100 people signed up to attend.
The Co-operative College has revealed the agenda for the Co-operative University Information Day, which takes place on 5 March at Federation House. It will highlight how the Co-operative University would work differently, and tell interested parties how they can get involved.
There will also be details of the degree programmes the College intends to run – including BAs in international development and co-operation; social movements; parallel histories; and co-operative leadership, culture and management.
The College is also planning accredited higher education programmes in democratic practice; social and community organising; community history and culture; human ecology; art and community; alternative forms of social and economic organisation; and the nature and future of work.
All courses will start with a module in co-operative learning, research and practice.
Simon Parkinson, chief executive and principal of the College, said: “Our information day marks another important milestone on the journey to making the Co-operative University a reality. We believe that the co-operative model offers a genuine alternative for students in a market that is ripe for change and reform.”
The College formed a Co-operative University Working Group in 2017 in response to the UK Higher Education Research Act, which encourages the formation of ‘challenger’ institutions complementary to the existing university system.
An educational charity, the College is already delivering higher education in collaboration with university partners but it wishes to acquire degree-awarding powers and hopes to be able to offer degree level courses from Autumn 2019. On 31 August 2018 it submitted its application for Degree Awarding Powers to the Office for Students.
Registration for the event is still open via the College’s website.
