Member Identity and Governance Culture. Training and Tools for Executives and Members

At an international level, the ICA (International Co-operative Alliance) has long underway a process of adapting and reinterpreting its mission, value system, and Cooperative Principles. This ensures they align with the new competitive environments of global markets and address emerging challenges such as sustainability, digitalization, and the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.We aim to participate in this process, focusing primarily on the quality of governance and member training.In fact, in collaboration with the national Legacoop, we have produced the “Guidelines for Good Governance.” This initiative has launched educational and informational programs to promote these guidelines through training courses targeted at cooperative leadership teams, named GoCoop.In parallel with this initiative, the “Member Education” project will be rolled out. This will involve building a database of training activities aimed at members, alongside designing tailored materials in collaboration with cooperatives and their corporate academies, as well as partnerships with university-level educational institutions and system association bodies.

Why this project

To reposition cooperatives in response to the challenges of digitalization and sustainability, it is necessary to strengthen the identity of cooperative culture and its distinctiveness compared with other forms of enterprise.

This can be achieved by enhancing governance quality and cooperative values, together with a member training program that strengthens their identity and equips it for new challenges.

The objectives of the project

Create a historical database of activities and materials for member training, developed in collaboration with the university center.

Design training materials to support the development of courses for members, to be delivered both within individual cooperatives and through independent learning on a digital platform (Universitas Mercatorum agreement).

Deliver GoCoop courses to disseminate the guidance and content of the “Guidelines for Good Cooperative Governance,” involving cooperatives through courses available on the “Mercatorum” platform.

Build partnerships and a collaborative network among:

“Ivano Barberini” Foundation.
The training companies Demetra and Quadir.
Universitas Mercatorum.
An agreement with the Center for Digital Humanities and the center of excellence for training in critical thinking and citizenship culture, both at UNIMORE.
Additional agreements with all potential stakeholders in the regional university system.