Master of Management: Co-operatives and Credit Unions
Encyclopedia
The Master of Management: Co-operatives and Credit Unions (MMCCU) is a master's degree
in co-operative and credit union
administration. As the program is designed for students interested in entering business management, the degree attracts applicants from diverse academic disciplines. The degree is currently offered solely through an international program at the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
.
The degree is designed to improve students' understanding of management within the context of the co-operative economic model
. Similar to the more traditional MBA, students are introduced to economics, accounting, human resources, marketing, technology, best practice
s and equity management. The MMCCU also teaches the history and philosophy of the co-operative management model and hosts international symposia.
While the coursework is delivered exclusively on-line, participants proceed as cohorts and meet in person three times during the process: once for Orientation Week in Halifax, once for a field trip in the second year and finally for Convocation upon completion.
(AACSB).
virtual environment. With the exception of the orientation and field trip, the classes only meet on-line.
. Students spend 10 days studying the Mondragon Co-operative and learning about the culture of the region.
The second location involves the Emilia-Romagna
region of Italy
. Students tour and study the worker co-operatives and co-operative federations of the region.
and the Co-operative Management Education Co-operative (CMEC). This co-operative consists of co-operatives, individuals, as well as educational and support institutions.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in co-operative and credit union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
administration. As the program is designed for students interested in entering business management, the degree attracts applicants from diverse academic disciplines. The degree is currently offered solely through an international program at the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University
Saint Mary's University (Halifax)
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
.
The degree is designed to improve students' understanding of management within the context of the co-operative economic model
Co-operative economics
Co-operative economics is a field of economics, socialist economics, co-operative studies, and political economy, which is concerned with co-operatives.-History:...
. Similar to the more traditional MBA, students are introduced to economics, accounting, human resources, marketing, technology, best practice
Best practice
A best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means, and that is used as a benchmark...
s and equity management. The MMCCU also teaches the history and philosophy of the co-operative management model and hosts international symposia.
While the coursework is delivered exclusively on-line, participants proceed as cohorts and meet in person three times during the process: once for Orientation Week in Halifax, once for a field trip in the second year and finally for Convocation upon completion.
Background
The MMCCU degree program was created in 2002 by a partnership between Saint Mary's University and the Co-operative Management Education Co-operative (CMEC), a federation of over 50 cooperatives. It was founded by Saint Mary's University Professor John Chamard. The program took its first students in 2003 and saw its first graduates in 2007.Accreditation
The Sobey School of Business, the home of the MMCCU, has accreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of BusinessAssociation to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business was founded in 1916 to accredit schools of business worldwide. The first accreditations took place in 1919. The stated mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership. It is regarded...
(AACSB).
Method of delivery
The MMCCU is an on-line only program using the Blackboard Learning SystemBlackboard Learning System
The Blackboard Learning System is a virtual learning environment and course management system developed by Blackboard Inc. Features include course management, a customizable open architecture, and a scalable design that allows for integration with student information systems and authentication...
virtual environment. With the exception of the orientation and field trip, the classes only meet on-line.
Admissions criteria
The admission requirements consist of the following:- Completion of an undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience;
- Transcripts from previous educational work;
- Support (in writing) from one's employer;
- A two-page essay on the student's expectations to use the education to improve their co-operative or credit union;
- An updated resume;
- Proficiency in the English language;
- A completed application and application fee.
First year
In the first semester, students complete the following:- Philosophical Philosophical Origins and Historical Evolution of Co-operative Governance and Business Practice offers a survey of the historical development of co-operation from the dawn of the Industrial Age and market capitalism to the present-day. Students learn about and practice creating social auditsSocial accountingSocial accounting is the process of communicating the social and environmental effects of organizations' economic actions to particular interest groups within society and to society at...
. - The Emerging Global Economy and Society from a Co-operative Perspective I provides an overview of globalization and its effect on the world economy. In addition, students examine examples of global co-operation.
- Comparative Co-operative Practice I: Variety and Range of Co-operative Business. This course builds off of the history of the first semester. Students learn about the different sectors of co-operation: consumer, producer, housing, financial and worker and multi-stakeholder co-operatives.
- Co-operative Financial Analysis and Management I provides students with a basic understanding of managerial accounting and financial accounting. Students learn the basic of an income statement, balance statement, cash flow analysis and equity statement. Students also learn to conduct a financial analysis.
Second year
- The Emerging Global Economy and Society from a Co-operative Perspective II.
- Field Research: Study Visits to Exemplars of Excellent Co-operative Business Practice. Students learn about the region of the visit and the co-operative society prior to their visit. The remainder of the course examines the lessons learned during the trip and how it might relate to their co-operatives.
- Comparative Co-operative Practice II: Co-operative Innovations and Best Practice considers different co-operatives on an individual level in order to understand how different co-operators solve similar problems.
- Technology, Communication and Co-operation examines the role of technology in society and how co-operatives might use it to succeed.
Field trip
The field trip currently alternates between two locations. The first is the Mondragon Co-operative in northern SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Students spend 10 days studying the Mondragon Co-operative and learning about the culture of the region.
The second location involves the Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
region of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Students tour and study the worker co-operatives and co-operative federations of the region.
Third year
- Marketing the Co-operative Advantage: Co-operative Education, Member Relations and Marketing. This course examines basic marketing strategiesMarketing strategyMarketing strategy is a process that can allow an organization to concentrate its limited resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.-Developing a marketing strategy:...
and the co-operative identityStatement on the Co-operative IdentityThe Statement on the Co-operative Identity, promulgated by the International Co-operative Alliance , defines and guides co-operatives worldwide. It contains the definition of a co-operative as a special form of organization, the values of co-operatives, and the currently accepted cooperative...
. - Co-operative Financial Analysis and Management II, focuses on the role of equity in a co-operative. Students learn about equity development and how it interacts in a co-operative.
- The Co-operative Management Approach I: Governance, Planning and Strategic Analysis. Students learn about these three important areas of management through a co-operative lens.
- The Co-operative Management Approach II: Leadership, Personnel and Management Style, examines the role of human resourcesHuman resourcesHuman resources is a term used to describe the individuals who make up the workforce of an organization, although it is also applied in labor economics to, for example, business sectors or even whole nations...
in a co-operative.
Master's project
The last year of the master's program has been dedicated to the project. Students are expected to develop a change in their co-operative based on the lessons learned through their program.General information
Students move through the program as a cohort, so once a student starts they must commit to the entire program or drop-out.Co-operative Management Education Co-operative
The program is a collaborative effort between Saint Mary's UniversitySaint Mary's University (Halifax)
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
and the Co-operative Management Education Co-operative (CMEC). This co-operative consists of co-operatives, individuals, as well as educational and support institutions.
Financial aid options
The Sid Pobihushchy scholarship is available for students pursuing an MMCCU. Other means of financial aid will depend upon competitive grants and scholarships such as the Lemaire Scholarship provided by the Canadian Association for Study in Co-operatives, a special loan program through the Cooperative Development Institute, private grants and the specific awards available in one's home country.See also
Other methods of training in co-operatives exist:- CooperationWorks!CooperationWorks!CooperationWorks! is a network of organizations promoting rural development through the formation of cooperatives in the United States. CooperationWorks! is organized as a cooperative of 21 member development centers...
trains cooperative developers in the United States. - The University of TorontoUniversity of TorontoThe University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
offers an undergraduate program in co-operatives. - The University of Wisconsin offers a survey course on co-operatives.