Sustainable co-operative business model 6 op, 2024-2025, UEF

The course is at the Bachelor`s level. The course belongs to the Basic Studies, Management and Leadership (johtamisen perusopinnot) or the Intermediate studies, Marketing and Retailing (Johtamisen aineopinnot).

Content: The origin of co-operative movement and co-operatives. The reach and relevance of the global co-operative movement. Co-operative identity, values and principles. The unique characteristics and specific issues of the co-operative business model and its ownership structure, governance systems and management. Co-operative entrepreneurship. In addition, the course introduces several special cases to the students (e.g., Spanish worker co-op Mondragon, Japanese consumer co-op Sapporo, etc.). This course develops generic skills in sustainability and responsibility, and leadership and development.

01.09.2024 – 31.07.2025

The course is available for all UEF students regardless of their major and the stage of their studies.

The course introduces various perspectives related to the sustainable co-operative business model. Students will gain an understanding of the global and national relevance of the co-operative movement and co-operative identity, values and principles – the co-operative difference in comparison to for example investor-owned firms. Students will get acquainted with the unique features and specific issues of co-operative management, governance and ownersip control. The students will also learn to understand the dual nature of co-operatives – combination of social and economic elements of the firm – and its importance for practical managerial work. Students will be able to use their knowledge in further studies and in expert, administrative, governance, managerial and leadership positions in co-operatives.

6 op

Anu Puusa, Sanna Saastamoinen, Antti Talonen

Video lectures 25-30 h, independent work (assignments and familiarization with literature) 132-137 h.

An online course with independent study of the learning material (video lectures with PP slides, articles, etc.). Written and multiple-choice assignments. The assessment is criteria-based (see the assessment criteria and the guidelines for scientific writing). Requirements for successful completion: passed completion of interim test(s) (evaluation: pass/fail), written interim assignment(s) (evaluation: pass/fail), and a final written assignment (evaluation: 0-5). In the overall assessment of the course (0–5), particular emphasis is placed on the completion of the final written assignment. The assessment of the final written assignment will place particular emphasis on a coherent mastery of the concepts and on an in-depth understanding of the themes at stake.

Alternative return dates for learning assignments 2024-2025 will be announced later.

Scale on grade 0 -5.

Video lectures and the study material on Moodle.

Itä-Suomen yliopisto

Tiina Laurikainen
tiina.laurikainen@phkesa.fi
avoin@phkesa.fi
p. 050 3754 977

Registration takes place through the registration form found on this page.

Each participant is also instructed to register with the Open University of Eastern Finland.

Participants will receive an information letter about the studies by email during week 33, and for registrations made after that, approximately 2 working days after registration.

You may start your studies as early as July 1 with the ”Aikuisopiskelijan opiskelutaidot” -section organized by Päijät-Hämeen kesäyliopisto.

Aikuisopiskelijan opiskelutaido -section does not grant ECTS credits and is not part of the official degree requirements. Participation in the Study Skills section is voluntary and it is conducted on Päijät-Hämeen kesäyliopisto EduGo learning platform. Participants will receive a username to log in to the EduGo platform. Aikuisopiskelijan opiskelutaidot -section can be completed at your own pace during the 2024-2025 academic year.

We reserve the right to make changes to the teaching program.

– The fee charged by Päijät-Hämeen kesäyliopisto is 90 euros. – The fee charged by the Open University of Eastern Finland for an individual course is 12 euros per ECTS credit.

The studies are included in the annual tuition fee of Päijät-Hämeen kesäyliopisto. The annual fee charged by the Päijät-Hämeen kesäyliopisto is 90 euros. This one-time fee allows you to study an unlimited number of specific Open University courses at Päijät-Hämeen kesäyliopisto during the 2024-2025 academic year. Kesäyliopisto will collect the annual fee from the participant at the beginning of the studies.

In addition to the annual fee, you will pay the fee charged by the Open University of Eastern Finland directly to the Open University of Eastern Finland. Kesäyliopisto will provide instructions at the beginning of the studies. 

Further information about tuition fees

26.04.2025 mennessä

Cancellation Policy of Päijät-Hämeen kesäyliopisto:

You can cancel your participation free of charge if you do so by August 11, 2024.

For registrations made from August 12, 2024, onwards, you can cancel your participation free of charge within 7 days of registration. If you cancel your participation more than 7 days after registration and the invoice has already been issued, we will charge a study fee of 90 euros. Please cancel in writing by sending a message to avoin@phkesa.fi or tiina.laurikainen@phkesa.fi.

Cancellation Policy of the Open University of Eastern Finland:

Study fees will not be refunded nor will the invoicing of the study fee be waived after registering as a student at the Open University of Eastern Finland.