Course Topics
- International Cooperatives: definition, values, principles, facts and figures - The Mediterranean model and the Central European model of cooperatives: differences and similarities - Cooperatives in Italy: legal form, different types, differentiation from other types of companies, history, market shares, cooperative associations - Founding a cooperative: purpose and aim, members, customer segments, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key partners, key activities, key resources (business model canvas) - Development of a business plan - Help and support: assistance and subsidies for cooperatives - Example of a social cooperative or a community cooperative for better understanding

Propaedeutic courses
none

Teaching format
Alternating between classroom teaching as input and practical workshop exercises, group work and group presentations.

Educational objectives
Knowledge and understanding Students of the Master in Eco-social Design will have developed their own individual project practice and will be able to: - design, implement and manage projects - initiate, carry out and lead project-oriented research, development and design activities - involve stakeholders and actors in projects, identify their needs, conflicts and potentials and work productively with them - working with different experts, companies, organisations, groups and people Applying knowledge and understanding Students will be able to develop projects and practices suitable for addressing complex challenges. Making judgements Students will be able to take responsibility for the development and management of projects and activities. Communication skills Students will be able to: - communicate convincingly in different ways and with different audiences - present projects convincingly - argue creative and strategic decisions - show how the social, ecological and economic aspects of sustainability interact in their projects - organising and/or moderating discussions and creative processes among project stakeholders - communicate productively within the team - lead creative processes and teams Learning skills Students will be able to working independently to learn according to different situations and in a personal way through experimentation and planning.

Additional educational objectives and learning outcomes
- Knowledge and understanding: Knowledge of how to found and run a cooperative, understanding of the cooperative networks in Italy - Applying knowledge and understanding: Acquisition of a range of methods and tools to develop a business idea and a business plan - Making judgments: Ability to assess whether a coop is the right type of company for one’s business idea - Communication skills: Being able to develop a project in a team and to present the project in a professional way Learning skills: Ability to organize and apply the knowledge acquired to a group project Students will be able to: - Understand the differences between cooperatives and other forms of businesses - Evaluate the pros and cons of the cooperative form for their business idea - Simulate the founding and running of a cooperative

Assessment
- Group work presentation during the course: students have to develop, describe and present their hypothetical cooperative with reference to the content of the classroom lectures - oral exam on the understanding of cooperatives as a democratic and social ecological business

Evaluation criteria
- Completeness of the developed cooperative and of the business-plan - Creativity of the idea and the presentation - Teamwork - Ability to reflect the pros and cons of the cooperative form for their business idea - Unterstanding of cooperatives as a democratic and social ecological business

Required readings

https://ica.coop/en

 

International Cooperative Aliance 2024 Exploring the cooperative economy. World Cooperative Monitor 2023. https://monitor.coop/

 

Supplementary readings

Carini, Chiara, Fontanari, Eddi (et.al.) 2023 La Cooperazione in Italia: Tratti distintivi e traiettorie di sviluppo. Euricse Research Report n. 31/23

Depedri, Sara (et. al.) 2024 Lavorare in cooperativa oggi. La voce dei nuovi professionisti della cura e il turn-over nelle imprese sociali. Euricse Research Report n. 35/24

Further information
A handout with the presentations will be provided.