Inspiring co-operative enterprise through education

Local Authority CPD Dundee

Dundee City Council invited CETS to deliver CPD for primary and secondary teachers at their in service day. The first session was attended by the Business Studies Principal Teachers network. During The first part of the session they were introduced to the values and principles of co-operative businesses, through selected activities from our free down loadable resources.

The second part of the course looked at how the resources could help in developing an interdisciplinary project within their schools. CETS and The Co-op College in Manchester have produced a number of resources, some of which support the set up of a Young Co-op with and emphasis on ethical trading. Course participants were able to look at these resources and discuss how they could be used to enhance learning across different departments, focussing on Enterprise, Sustainability and Global Citizenship and the central role of the Business Studies Department in co-ordinating the project.

Participants were given access to useful websites and contacts to help in their students setting up and running their own co-operative. The second session was attended by nursery and primary staff, who are interested in looking at co-operative learning and teaching. Ideas ranged from setting up a health tuck shop to growing and cooking with their own herbs and vegetables.

The idea of pupils supporting micro finance in developing countries was also explored, as an interesting and worthwhile addition to schools Global Citizenship programme. All attendees were give access to numerous free resources, good contacts, useful websites as well as lots of enterprising ideas and free tasting of some Fairtrade chocolate!