EDUCATING ON COOPERATIVES: IMPORTANCE, CURRENT STATE, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

In a market-oriented environment, the cooperative sector is often unjustifiably neglected. This also applies to opportunities for acquiring knowledge about cooperatives, even though such knowledge is a prerequisite for active member participation and effective cooperative management. This paper examines the reasons behind the neglect of cooperative education and explores the possibilities for acquiring knowledge in this field in Serbia and selected countries with well-developed cooperative sectors. The analysis indicates that the current situation hinders the development of adequate skills and organizational capacities necessary to improve performance and enhance the impact of cooperative enterprises. Faculties, primarily with agricultural science, which are the main providers of cooperative education, have continuously marginalized this course in their curriculums in Serbia. In the absence of non-formal educational opportunities in the field of cooperatives, this important area remains neglected within the education system. Coordinated efforts by the state, the academic community, higher education institutions, and the cooperative sector are required to design and implement diverse educational programs in cooperative studies.

KEYWORDS / KLJUČNE REČI: 

Cooperatives, education, faculties, cooperative sector

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / PROJEKAT:

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