Text 1. Co-operative Education

Task 2. Read and translate the text. Comment on new words and expressions.

 

Co-operative education dates back to the 19^th century, 1844, when the first cooperatives emerged, and members of the co-operative started educating their counterparts partly because there was a crying need for basic adult education, and because education was necessary for any social progress, it changed people’s habit and character.

In 1903 the Workers’ Education Association (WEA) was set up. Step by step there emerged a network of educational associations to run courses in co-operative bookkeeping, auditing and other co-operative subjects. In 1906 the Education Department organized classes in economics, in 1908 – in co-operative subjects for adolescents. In 1913 the Education Department held its first residential summer school, and in 1914 appointed Fred Hall as the first director of a Co-operative College.

The Co-operative College was established in 1919 to meet the educational and training needs of the Co-operative movement. First, it was located in East Midlands, Leicestershire near Loughborough at Stanford Hall, now it is in Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester (www.co-op.ac.uk).

The Co-operative College is UK’s major provider of co-operative education, training and development. Its vision is to lead the world in co-operative learning, training, learning, consultancy and research for the co-operative and mutual sector. Its mission is to provide challenging and diverse opportunities to put co-operative values and principles into everyday practice and to provide adult learners with lifelong learning programs that emphasize co-operative values and principles.

Within the Co-operative College there is the Institute of Co-operative Directors (ICD) which assists society directors and regional committee members to improve their co-operative knowledge, understanding and skills.

Besides the Co-operative College there are some other co-operative educational institutions which provide professional co-operative education. They are: Leicester University, Management Centre (started as London University College (1945 – 1957), later became an independent educational institution teaching 15,000 students from 80 countries in “Financial Management”, “Marketing”, “Labor”); Stirling University, Scotland (is majoring in “Banking”, “Co-operative Finance”, “Finance Accounting”, “Finance Analysis”, “International Finance”); the Co-operative Research Unit Open University (founded in 1969 leads the world in distance learning).

All the co-operative education institutions provide learning, education, training, consultancy and research for the co-operative, social enterprises and mutual sectors in the UK and internationally, offering tailored workshops and qualifications for members, directors, staff and managers in co-operatives, social enterprises and mutual organizations. They work with schools, young people and public bodies to improve knowledge of co-operatives and co-operative values among individuals and their communities.

Cooperative educational institutions of CIS countries (The) Commonwealth of Independent States) founded the Council of Rectors of CIS cooperative higher school which embraces the universities of Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. The Council organizes annual meetings in order to discuss current problems on regular basis.

One of the most active members of the Council is Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economics and Law. The University has developed a multi stage system starting with pre-higher school training, secondary vocational, higher professional, post-diploma and further professional training. At present the University offers educational programs in 23 specialities of higher, 15 specialities of secondary vocational training, 15 directions of bachelor courses and 9 those of master ones, 10 programs of post-diploma professional training (post-graduate courses and doctoral studies), programs of further professional education and professional training.

Word Check

Task 3. Memorize the key terms, concepts, expressions and their meaning.

1.	date back	датировать, вести начало от, относиться
2.	counterpart	коллега
3.	adult education	образование для взрослых
4.	set up	основать, образовать
5.	emerge	появляться, возникать
6.	adolescent	юноша, юношеский
7.	appoint	назначать, определять
8.	be established	быть основанным
9.	provide	снабжать, обеспечивать
10.	vision	концепция развития, идеология
11.	mutual sector	взаимный, совместный
12.	mission	цели и задачи, предназначение
13.	challenging and diverse opportunities	трудные, интересные и разнообразные возможности
14.	values and principles	ценности и принципы
15.	emphasize	подчеркнуть, придавать особое значение
16.	improve	улучшать, совершенствовать
17.	major	специализироваться
18.	offer tailored workshop	предлагать специализированный семинар
19.	direction of bachelor courses	направление подготовки бакалавров
20.	CIS countries	СНГ – Содружество Независимых Государств, страны ближнего зарубежья

Task 4. Answer the following questions, solve the problems, do the tasks.

 

1. How can you understand the concept “Co-operative Education”?

2. What is the difference between co-operative and general education?

3. When did co-operative education start? Why?

4. What stages did co-operative education pass?

5. When was the Co-operative College established? Where is it located now?

6. What is its vision and mission?

7. What other co-operative educational institutions deal with co-operative education?

8. What programs do co-operative educational institutions offer?

9. Are graduates guaranteed employment in their own speciality?

10. What do students of co-operative educational institutions do in their free time?

11. Where do students live while studying at co-operative educational institutions?