Journal of Co-operative Studies Vol 35 No 2

This special issue brings together papers presented and plenary session contributions from a UK conference on co-operative learning and responsible citizenship, organised by the UK Co-operative College and the International Association for the Study of Co-operation in Education (IASCE). The conference brought together particpants from over 20 countries and the papers provide an insight into some of the themes presented. Mervyn Wilson, Chief executive and principal of the Co-operative College provides an introduction to the papers.

Short papers - plenary contibutions and presentations

Education as the life-blood of co-operation

Lynda Baloche, pp. 75-79

This paper provides and overview and framing of the four plenary papers presented in the Journal.

Co-operative learning, citizenship and current adult learning policies

Cheryl Turner, pp. 80-85

Transcript from a presentation from the development officer at the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and previously part of the East Midlands district of the Workers' Education Association (WEA). This article links to the theme of the conference - co-operative learning and citizenship in relation to adult learning policies and the Europe-wide ambition to promote lifelong learning.

Encouraging associative intelligence: Co-operatives, shared learning and responsible citizenship

Ian MacPherson, pp. 86-98

This paper provides an overview of key figures linked to co-operatve education and learming and responsible citizenship. Starting with George Keen, the secretary of the Co-operative Union of Canada (1909-1945), the paper includes the contributions of the Rochdale Pioneers, and key thinkers, writers, activists, and institutions in the UK and internationally. The paper also considers education in many and interconnected forms - dispensing information, training, encouraging reflection, creating knowledge, and facilitating learning.

Co-operative learning and the equitable classroom in a multicultural society

Elizabeth G. Cohen, pp. 99-108

This contribution considers how co-operative learning is a crtitical tool in adapting schools to the rich diversity of increasingly multicultural, multiracial, and multilingual populations.

What value do co-operative and mutual enterprises in general, and the co-operative movement in particular, add to the citizenship agenda?

Stephen Yeo, pp. 109-127

The presented paper focuses on aswering the question outlines in the title, drawing on the author's experience and involvement in two organisations that connect citizenship with co-operation: the Centre for Civil Society based at the London School of Economics, and the Co-operative College based in Manchester.

Peer reviewed papers

A values perspective of the Irish credit union movement

Olive McCarthy, pp. 128-140

It is important for all co-operatives, including credit unions to continue to energise and re-energise their core values, particularly in the context of a rapidly changing environment. This article firstly identifies briefly the values inherent in co­ operatives such as credit unions and then explores how some of these operate in practice, drawing mainly on co-operative theory and on the author's experience as a practitioner within the Irish credit union movement. Some lessons are then drawn up that might be learned by credit unions in the UK and elsewhere from the successes and difficulties of the Irish credit union movement.