Education and training

One of the most important functions of the Association is the training of directors and senior executives of cooperatives, and those interested in this sector

The focus of the training is on issues which do not necessarily arise in respect of an investor-owned company, or for which there may be a different set of circumstances in cooperative and mutual, member-owned businesses.

In most years, there is one training session for directors and one for senior executives which is publicised to member co-ops and recipients of Cooperatives News.

When the opportunity arises, the Association brings high-profile overseas speakers to New Zealand to offer presentations on co-op issues.

Training programmes are self-funding, and in most instances non-member participants may attend at a higher cost than members. This allows individuals and businesses to attend that are not presently employed by or serving for a member.

An increasing number of government, advisory and private service providers who are seeking better appreciation of cooperative issues are attending these sessions.

The broader matter of education receives a limited amount of attention, but as we widen the coverage of training so more people in the community are being educated about cooperatives.

As funds allow, the Association intends to raise the profile of education about cooperatives within tertiary educational institutions.

2010 cooperative education seminar

A date has been set for this year’s seminar. It will be held on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 August in Wellington with the topic announced at the end of April.

2009 cooperative education seminars

Two seminars were held, each over two days, in Wellington during August 2009.

The first seminar, for cooperative directors and members, took place on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 August. Leading the workshops were:

A seminar for cooperative executives was then held on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August. The people leading these workshops included:

The promotional brochure for the seminars can be downloaded here. PDFs of some of the presentations are available for download in the member area of this website.

2009 Cooperative College New Zealand programme

Available as in-house programmes for individual cooperatives and as a general seminar for Association members. Dr Chris Cooper from the UK Cooperative College was in New Zealand from the middle of July through the beginning of August 2008 to discuss next year's programme. Information and contact details in the brochure which is downloadble from the link below.

2009 Cooperative College New Zealand and Australian programme

2008 seminars

Why Some Cooperatives Succeed and Why Some Fail

A strategic one-day cooperative identity programme for directors and executive managers

31 July 2008, Wellington

facilitated by
Dr Chris Cooper MA Ed Mgmt (Open), EDSM, DMS (Henley), Cert Ed

Run in conjunction with the following day's seminar, this event is aimed at those responsible both for the governance and the strategic management of their cooperative as well as communicating the aims and ethos of the cooperative to existing, new and prospective members and the wider community.

It will also help to review at a practical level what cooperatives are about and how the application of these values can help in an increasingly tough and competitive market.

For more information download the programme.

 

Effective Cooperative Governance

A one-day workshop for current and future cooperative directors

1 August 2008, Wellington

facilitated by
Dr Chris Cooper MA Ed Mgmt (Open), EDSM, DMS (Henley), Cert Ed

Following on from the previous day's seminar, this governance workshop will ensure that cooperative directors have a thorough understanding of their roles and responsibilities in line with recognised codes on corporate governance and best practice.

This workshop offers participants the opportunity to discuss their role as director, governance and governance codes in detail, and to ensure that they have an understanding of governance issues as they affect a cooperative business.

For more information download the programme.

 

Some earlier seminars

The Cooperative Advantage of Doing Business

November 2007 – a seminar for senior cooperative executives, Wellington

An opportunity for NZ co-ops to talk business with senior cooperative executives from all over Asia and the Pacific rim, it was opened by Minister of Commerce Hon Lianne Dalziel. The first day saw presentations from David Graham, Chairman of Ballance Agri-Nutrients, senior cooperative executives from Japan, India, Kuwait and Singapore and others. Workshop facilitators on the second day included Dr. Chris Cooper from the UK Cooperative College.

To find out more, download these documents: November ICA workshop flyer and the Invitation to NZCA members.

The presentations by cooperative senior executives from Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka and from Dr. Chris Cooper are available in the Members area.

This seminar was organised by the International Cooperative Alliance Regional Office Asia Pacific with support from IFFCO – the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative, and hosted by the New Zealand Cooperatives Association.

 

Protecting Your Cooperative

7th August 2007 – a one day seminar in Wellington

Seminar Report

PDFs of presentations and other resources from this seminar are available in the Members area.

 

Workshops by Tom Webb – Marketing Our Cooperative Advantage

Canadian cooperator Tom Webb visited New Zealand in May 2001 to present workshops entitled Marketing Our Cooperative Advantage.

This series of workshops highlighted the inherent advantages cooperatives and mutuals enjoy over investor-owned businesses. Tom Webb used research data from Canada, the USA and the UK to show how cooperatives and mutuals that actively and fully embraced cooperative ownership had improved market share of business once the wider community had a better understanding of the cooperative business model and its ability to embrace principles that are keenly held by the community.

The workshops showed a further dimension to cooperative business and the way it can use the unique features of cooperatives to generate more business.

 

Edgar Parnell Seminars

In March 1999, Edgar Parnell presented three seminars to groups of people from various sectors of interest in New Zealand. These presentations on cooperative principles and issues were by the man who wrote the book Reinventing Cooperation, copies of which are available at $80 (inc postage & GST) from the Association office.

About 100 people attended the seminars held in Christchurch, Wellington and Hamilton, and they were led through the challenges for cooperatives in the years ahead.

 

Professor Gert van Dijk Seminars

Prof. van Dijk visited New Zealand in March 2000 and conducted a one-day seminar in Christchurch for the Cooperatives Association. The seminar was of particular interest to members as at that time the prospect of a mega-merger in the dairy industry was reaching an advanced stage. Prof. van Dijk expressed views in favour of the concept of a merger.