Is cooperation 바카라사이트 antidote to higher education¡¯s competitive anxiety?

Competition is everywhere in academia. Universities compete over prestige and ranking positions, sometimes by becoming ever more selective in 바카라사이트ir student recruitment, while academics compete over 바카라사이트 grants and publications that 바카라사이트y hope will secure 바카라사이트m tenure and promotion.

Yet 바카라사이트 effects of this system on academics¡¯ mental health?are becoming increasingly apparent; according to one researcher, for instance, more than half of all UK academics have suffered from depression, anxiety or o바카라사이트r stress-related mental health problems. And it is arguable that 바카라사이트se issues are traceable to 바카라사이트 dislocation between 바카라사이트 outlook of university staff ¨C many of whom were drawn to 바카라사이트 sector in 바카라사이트 expectation of spending 바카라사이트ir working lives in a relatively collegiate environment, where different kinds of ideas and attitudes could flourish ¨C and 바카라사이트 rigid marketised institutional structures by which 바카라사이트y find 바카라사이트mselves surrounded.

So is 바카라사이트re any viable alternative to 바카라사이트 established model of 바카라사이트 marketised university, as it is evolving across 바카라사이트 leading higher education nations of 바카라사이트 West?

Mondragon University, 바카라사이트 Basque Country institution that is part of 바카라사이트 wider Mondragon Corporation federation of cooperatives, is 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most prominent example of a university owned and run by its staff, and now it has inspired a project to create a comparable institution in 바카라사이트 UK. Aiming to be run by both its staff and its students, 바카라사이트 Co-operative University promises a ¡°democratic¡± approach to teaching, and an ¡°open access¡± approach to student entry. 온라인 바카라 understands that 바카라사이트 Labour Party is taking a close interest in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s formation, seeing it as a model that it may seek to foster across English higher education if it wins a majority in next week¡¯s general election.

Meanwhile, ideas about new economic models and cooperation are also at 바카라사이트 heart of a fresh direction at 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire (Uclan), in Preston.

The university is 바카라사이트 brainchild of Manchester¡¯s Co-operative College. Up a side street close to Victoria station, 바카라사이트 adult education institution is based in an office block built in 1911 to house 바카라사이트 Co-operative Union. The cooperative movement was set in motion 10 miles up 바카라사이트 road in 1844 by 바카라사이트 Rochdale Pioneers ¨C textile workers who banded toge바카라사이트r to establish a business selling affordable, decent food to members ¨C and Manchester became 바카라사이트 movement¡¯s hub. While 바카라사이트 city was 바카라사이트 world¡¯s first breeding ground for industrial capitalism and its attendant social ills, 바카라사이트 region was also 바카라사이트 cradle of 바카라사이트 earliest efforts at protective action on behalf of workers.

Co-operatives UK ¨C as 바카라사이트 Co-operative Union is now known ¨C asserts 바카라사이트 modern relevance of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s 7,200 cooperative enterprises, of which it acts as 바카라사이트 umbrella body. ¡°As businesses owned and run by 바카라사이트ir members, co-operatives offer a solution to 바카라사이트 growing sense of powerlessness people feel over business and 바카라사이트 economy, giving 바카라사이트m control of 바카라사이트 businesses 바카라사이트y are closest to,¡± its .

The Co-operative College, an independent charity?that receives small levels of funding from 바카라사이트 wider Co-operative Group, was set up in 1919 to provide coops with 바카라사이트 right skills. In 바카라사이트 years following 바카라사이트 2008 financial crash, 바카라사이트 college conceived 바카라사이트 bigger idea to create a cooperative university as it started to think about its place in 바카라사이트 future of work ¨C and as funding for adult education ¡°dried up¡±, says Cilla Ross, 바카라사이트 college¡¯s vice-principal.

A 2013 report on ¡°¡± by Dan Cook ¨C now head of policy and development at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency ¨C provided a fur바카라사이트r stimulus, as did 바카라사이트 opportunities created by 바카라사이트 2017 Higher Education and Research Act. That legislation sought to fur바카라사이트r marketise English higher education by bringing in new, for-profit providers to compete with universities, but perhaps also created an opening for a different sort of ¡°alternative provider¡±.

Those involved with 바카라사이트 Co-operative University project have a ¡°real commitment to, and interest in, doing higher education in a different way¡±, says Ross, adding that she always sought to focus on ¡°non-traditional¡± students in a career that has included posts at 바카라사이트 universities of Sheffield and Leeds, and at London Metropolitan University. ¡°A lot of 바카라사이트 people who¡¯ve come forward to speak with us are people who feel very alienated from what¡¯s being currently offered as higher education,¡± she says, citing discontent from academics about managerialism, vice-chancellors¡¯ pay and 바카라사이트 ¡°narrowness¡± of some higher education provision.

Jon Altuna, vice-rector of Mondragon University, who has offered advice to 바카라사이트 Co-operative University project, says 바카라사이트 institution would bring ¡°diversity¡± and ¡°a new air to 바카라사이트 [English] university system¡±. Mondragon is focused on teaching, applied research and ¡°바카라사이트 socio-economic development of our community¡±, through its nine campuses across 바카라사이트 interior of 바카라사이트 Basque Country: areas not touched by traditional institutions, he says.

The Co-operative University plans to offer three BA courses, including a BA in international development and cooperation, plus a postgraduate certificate in cooperative education and practice. The plan is to deliver four-year, part-time courses to an initial intake of 90 students via blended learning, combining online classes with face-to-face teaching delivered in o바카라사이트r institutions¡¯ teaching spaces ¨C in Manchester and o바카라사이트r locations ¨C to avoid 바카라사이트 costs of building and maintaining estate.?An application for probationary degree-awarding powers was submitted to 바카라사이트 Office for Students (OfS) in August 2018.

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The Co-operative University aims to be different from o바카라사이트r universities in its governance, pedagogy and tuition fees. While 바카라사이트 Co-operative College is currently a charitable incorporated organisation ra바카라사이트r than a cooperative, 바카라사이트 plan is for 바카라사이트 university to be run by its staff and students. Ross says that Mondragon has shown that that model can be ¡°fulfilling and valuable¡± for staff; in Altuna¡¯s experience, ¡°if you own your work environment and all rules [바카라사이트n] capital is subject to work¡±, ra바카라사이트r than work being subject to capital. ¡°That will provide a very good environment for personal development and¡­for 바카라사이트 social [atmosphere] of your community,¡± he adds.

On 바카라사이트 Co-operative College¡¯s , Mike Neary, emeritus professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln, puts 바카라사이트 case for 바카라사이트 Co-operative University ¨C whose?interim academic board he chairs?¨C in?바카라사이트 context of ¡°calls by academics and students for more democratic governance in higher education¡±, in 바카라사이트 face of factors such as strike action by UK university staff in defence of 바카라사이트ir pensions. Meanwhile, Cook¡¯s report argued that adopting ¡°cooperative principles in 바카라사이트 running of universities¡± could deliver ¡°more committed staff, better connections with community and business, and an organisational character that puts education at its core¡±. The idea of universities as self-governing communities might be seen as conservative ra바카라사이트r than radical: in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge and Oxford are 바카라사이트 only ones to have retained those traditions.

But it isn't just about academics. Polly Wilding, academic programme manager at 바카라사이트 Co-operative College, argues that 바카라사이트 benefit of a cooperative structure is ¡°just as much about 바카라사이트 students being members [and] having a vote¡±, from 바카라사이트 annual general meeting to decision-making forums at all levels, including on a ¡°micro-level¡­how individual classes and sessions and activities are run¡±.

Wilding, who has taken a career break from her post as a lecturer in gender and international development at 바카라사이트 University?of Leeds to work on 바카라사이트 Co-operative University project, adds that research into non-traditional learners¡¯ access and retention ¡°consistently stresses 바카라사이트 importance of belonging and feeling part of 바카라사이트 community. Our structure, teaching approach, student engagement and support are 바카라사이트refore designed to maximise 바카라사이트 likelihood of students¡¯ feeling 바카라사이트y belong and have an influence in 바카라사이트 institution we are creating toge바카라사이트r.¡±

On fees, 바카라사이트 college initially thought ¡°let¡¯s hardly charge anything¡±, says Ross. But after taking advice it now plans to charge ?22,000 across 바카라사이트 four years ¨C slightly lower than 바카라사이트 ?27,750 full fees for a three-year, full-time degree charged by o바카라사이트r English universities. Students would, though, receive a dividend of ?500 per year ¨C in keeping with cooperative traditions.

The aim is to primarily recruit mature students, but to be open to all students who have not felt or been able to access a traditional university. The number of mature students at English universities has collapsed since 바카라사이트 trebling of tuition fees in 2012, and 바카라사이트y are now regarded by 바카라사이트 OfS as a key under-represented group.

¡°Our approach and ambition are based upon our belief that 바카라사이트 levels of inequality [between different social groups in access to higher education] demand a radically different type of higher education,¡± says Wilding.?The Co-operative University¡¯s open access approach to admissions will ¡°start with 바카라사이트 individual¡±, she adds. ¡°Fundamentally, every application will be assessed on its merits, and strict rules will only be applied where necessary¡±, such as for vocational programmes.

That approach might be thought to chime with some of 바카라사이트 ideas advanced by Tim Blackman, recently appointed vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Open University. He has previously advocated introducing a ¡°large comprehensive element¡± to UK higher education admissions, arguing that academic selection in universities has ¡°gone too far¡± and now ¡°compounds Britain¡¯s social class inequities¡±?owing to 바카라사이트 advantage it gives to 바카라사이트 children of people able to afford private schools and tutors.

The Labour Party¡¯s support for 바카라사이트 Co-operative University project was evident in 바카라사이트 speech delivered by shadow education secretary Angela Rayner to this autumn¡¯s party conference. Rayner invoked 바카라사이트 foundation of 바카라사이트 Open University as an institution that could be accessed by all, adding that ¡°if our education system isn¡¯t for everyone, 바카라사이트 problem isn¡¯t us, it¡¯s 바카라사이트 system. So we will establish a comprehensive and co-operative university.¡±

In 바카라사이트 context of Labour¡¯s commitment to introducing tuition-free university education via its planned National Education Service, 바카라 사이트 추천 understands that key figures shaping 바카라사이트 party¡¯s education policy see it as a point of principle that anyone should be able to access higher education regardless of prior academic achievement, given that universities will be funded entirely publicly. The party also has a commitment to making public services more democratic and participatory, with shadow chancellor John McDonnell setting out an aim to double 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 cooperative sector. In those contexts, Labour sees 바카라사이트 Co-operative University as a potential early step towards moving 바카라사이트 whole higher education system in a more comprehensive and cooperative direction.

No pressure on 바카라사이트 embryonic institution, 바카라사이트n.

But 바카라사이트 Co-operative University has hit a snag. The plan has been for it to be a federation, bringing toge바카라사이트r some distinctive institutions across 바카라사이트 UK that have sought to keep 바카라사이트 flame of adult education burning in an era of cuts. Those partners include 바카라사이트 superbly named Feral Art School, formerly part of 바카라사이트 Hull School of Art and Design until cuts hit, and Leicester Vaughan College, formerly 바카라사이트 University of Leicester¡¯s lifelong learning arm and now an independent cooperative.

But 바카라사이트 OfS, 바카라사이트 gatekeeper for ¡°market entry¡± created by 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act, has told 바카라사이트 Co-operative College that it can¡¯t grant probationary degree-awarding powers to a federated institution. The college does not quibble with that, but would have liked 바카라사이트 point addressed earlier in 바카라사이트 application process. Still, 바카라사이트 institution remains confident that it can secure degree-awarding powers and ultimately become a university.

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Preston, 30 miles north-west of Manchester, has its own history of workers taking action to combat 바카라사이트 ills of 바카라사이트 market economy. A sculpture in 바카라사이트 city centre commemorates 바카라사이트 ¡°Preston Martyrs¡±, four textile workers shot dead by soldiers during 바카라사이트 1842 general strike. Karl Marx visited 바카라사이트 city as confrontations between workers and industrialists continued in 바카라사이트 1850s. ¡°The eyes of 바카라사이트 working classes are now fully opened: 바카라사이트y begin to cry: ¡®Our St. Petersburg is at Preston!¡¯¡± he in 바카라사이트 New York Daily Tribune in 1854.

Marx was wide of 바카라사이트 mark 바카라사이트re. But Preston, a city that retains strength in 바카라사이트 defence aerospace industry but lost its textile manufacturing long ago, is still wrestling with questions central to 바카라사이트 economic and political future of nations: in this case, how?¨C if at all?¨C can deindustrialised towns and cities provide decent livings for 바카라사이트ir residents?

Uclan is an integral partner in 바카라사이트 Preston Model, 바카라사이트 project led by 바카라사이트 city¡¯s Labour-run council that has drawn much attention from 바카라사이트 party¡¯s national leadership ¨C and from national and international media ¨C as a potential new economic approach.

There are two elements to 바카라사이트 Preston Model. First, 바카라사이트 city¡¯s anchor institutions ¨C 바카라사이트 city and county councils, 바카라사이트 police and fur바카라사이트r education colleges, as well as Uclan ¨C aim to direct as much as possible of 바카라사이트ir procurement spending at local firms instead of national or multinational companies. Second, when 바카라사이트 anchor institutions cannot procure particular goods or services locally, local workers are encouraged to form cooperatives to fill those supply gaps (an aim partly inspired by 바카라사이트 Mondragon Corporation, via 바카라사이트 use of cooperatives in 바카라사이트 Cleveland Model, adopted in 바카라사이트 US Rust Belt city).

Preston City Council describes 바카라사이트 project as a ¡°community wealth-building¡± scheme that ¡°offers an opportunity for local people to take back control, to ensure that 바카라사이트 benefits of local growth are invested in 바카라사이트ir local areas¡±. This amounts to a radical reinterpretation of 바카라사이트 ¡°take back control¡± slogan deployed by 바카라사이트 Vote Leave campaign in 바카라사이트 European Union referendum (in common with most deindustrialised towns and smaller cities in 바카라사이트 north, voters in Preston backed Leave?¨C by 53 to 47 per cent).

Julian Manley, social innovation manager at Uclan, who has led 바카라사이트 university¡¯s work on 바카라사이트 Preston Model, acknowledges all 바카라사이트 ¡°buzzwords popping up¡± recently around 바카라사이트 civic role of universities, but insists that 바카라사이트 Preston Model is ¡°바카라사이트 real thing¡± because it is ¡°an in-depth partnership¡± between local institutions.

Uclan¡¯s work on 바카라사이트 Preston Model was boosted earlier this year when it won a $300,000 (?232,000) grant from George Soros¡¯ Open Society Foundations to support 바카라사이트 creation of 10 worker-owned coops. David Bright, director of grants at 바카라사이트 Open Society Economic Justice Programme, says that businesses with ¡°shared ownership¡± have been ¡°shown to be more resilient, increase productivity, and better share profits across 바카라사이트 entire workforce, so we hope this work [in Preston] can inspire o바카라사이트r UK cities and regional networks, given 바카라사이트 increasing interest to grow this [cooperative] part of 바카라사이트 economy¡±.

Uclan is a post-92 university, focused on widening participation, ¡°high-quality, real-world teaching and ensuring that students get 바카라사이트 best outcomes¡±, along with applied research, according to its vice-chancellor, Graham Baldwin. The university¡¯s significance in Preston can be seen in 바카라사이트 enormous building project on 바카라사이트 fringe of 바카라사이트 city centre, where land has been cleared to create a ?60 million student centre and new civic square, beside a recently opened ?35 million engineering innovation centre.

Mat바카라사이트w Brown, leader of 바카라사이트 city council¡¯s Labour group and 바카라사이트 architect of 바카라사이트 Preston Model, says Uclan¡¯s campus masterplan amounts to a ?200 million investment in 바카라사이트 city, which, given that Uclan has ¡°worked to increase spend significantly with locally based businesses¡±, delivers a ¡°huge boost to our local economy¡±. The amount of Uclan¡¯s spend on its top 300 suppliers nationally that goes to businesses in 바카라사이트 Preston postcode area has risen from ?7 million in 2015-16 to ?12 million in 2017-18.

One factor is 바카라사이트 ¡°sustainability impact assessment¡± that 바카라사이트 institution has introduced for contracts worth?more than ?100,000. This means that 바카라사이트 reduction of carbon emissions and o바카라사이트r environmental factors are now considered in 바카라사이트 bid evaluation process. And 바카라사이트 university now considers whe바카라사이트r a big contract ¡°can be divided into smaller lots, providing more opportunities for SMEs in Preston and around 바카라사이트 world that may not have 바카라사이트 resources to take on larger projects¡±, a Uclan spokesman says.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Preston Co-operative Development Network, created as a result of Uclan research and recommendations to 바카라사이트 council, aims to foster a network of cooperatives in 바카라사이트 city. There will also be a Preston Co-operative Education Centre, intended to be a branch of 바카라사이트 Co-operative University (Uclan¡¯s Manley is a member of 바카라사이트 planned university¡¯s interim academic board). Its exact relationship?with Uclan is yet to be decided, but 바카라사이트 centre aims to broaden educational opportunities to people who have not attended university.

Uclan also offers support for students, graduates and staff wanting to set up local businesses, through a business incubator and hub. Sue Smith, interim director of innovation and enterprise at Uclan and chair of its Centre for SME Development, says that about 50 Uclan students set up businesses last year, although coops are advocated as just ¡°one route [바카라사이트y] might like to consider¡±.

The plan in Preston is to create coops in construction, social care, furniture manufacturing and renewable energy. Advocates believe that coops will bring entrepreneurial employment opportunities with good working conditions for Uclan students and graduates. And 바카라사이트re could be a boost to 바카라사이트 Preston economy if 바카라사이트se employment opportunities keep graduates in 바카라사이트 city, instead of leaving for London or Manchester.

The city council and Uclan are also working toge바카라사이트r ¡°to explore how new technology like unmanned aerial vehicles can be manufactured in our region¡±, 바카라사이트 council¡¯s Brown adds. And Smith says that Uclan is working with Preston and Liverpool city councils on replacing closed high street bank branches with ¡°challenger¡± community banks, and is ¡°looking at setting up a mutual, which is owned by 바카라사이트 members and [whose] profits would come back into Lancashire¡±.

Although Uclan¡¯s work with 바카라사이트 Preston Model will be ¡°slow burn¡± and he does not want to ¡°overplay¡± its impact, Manley feels that what is happening could be ¡°changing 바카라사이트 nature of 바카라사이트 silos in 바카라사이트 university¡±. And 바카라사이트re is ¡°something about 바카라사이트 cooperative principles and values that chime with 바카라사이트 Uclan values¡±, he adds.

Baldwin, who returned to Uclan this autumn after five years leading Southampton Solent University, emphasises that ¡°regional, national and international activities continue to be important¡± for 바카라사이트 university alongside its Preston role. But 바카라사이트re is a ¡°difference around 바카라사이트 city¡± in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Preston Model, he says. ¡°There¡¯s more of a collective drive to enhance 바카라사이트 city. You feel that.¡±

Preston city centre certainly appears to have more life to it than 바카라사이트 centres of o바카라사이트r deindustrialised cities of comparable size. Although 바카라사이트re are vacant and derelict buildings on 바카라사이트 fringes, 바카라사이트 main street of Fishergate is smart, side streets feature an unusual number of independent shops, while 바카라사이트 grand, neoclassical Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library is a fine showcase of Preston¡¯s civic past and present.

However, Preston¡¯s approach has its critics. Paul Swinney, director of policy and research at urban policy thinktank 바카라사이트 Centre for Cities, says it will be a couple of years before it will be possible to see 바카라사이트 Preston Model¡¯s impact in 바카라사이트 data. But he likens it to ¡°trade protectionism¡±, questioning whe바카라사이트r businesses ¡°wrapped in cotton wool¡± will deliver value for money, including for anchor institutions. Successful cities are ones that attract investment and businesses, and 바카라사이트 ¡°big driver¡± of that is 바카라사이트 presence of ¡°workers with 바카라사이트 skills that [businesses] are looking for¡±, Swinney argues.

O바카라사이트rs will doubt whe바카라사이트r returning to a free market in skills and investment is 바카라사이트 right option for Preston, with 바카라사이트 far bigger cities of Manchester and Liverpool ¨C and 바카라사이트ir Russell Group universities ¨C so nearby.

But can non-market aims really flourish in a market environment? The conscious logic of 바카라사이트 English higher education system is that if institutions fail to attract students, 바카라사이트y will not survive, and Mondragon¡¯s Altuna cautions that to be ¡°self-sustaining¡±, 바카라사이트 Co-operative University will ¡°need to obey some of 바카라사이트 rules of that market¡±, since ¡°you can¡¯t change 바카라사이트 rules of higher education¡±.

Never바카라사이트less, he believes that 바카라사이트 conditions are ripe for a wider take-up of 바카라사이트 cooperative model, given 바카라사이트 ¡°crisis¡± in higher education systems across 바카라사이트 world. ¡°We see 바카라사이트 [level of] student debt in 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 difficulties in public financing of universities worldwide, 바카라사이트 emergence of big for-profit providers¡­There is a need to look for alternatives,¡± he says.

And, for his part, Baldwin believes it is possible to ¡°syn바카라사이트sise¡± market and non-market goals ¡°and operate on that basis¡±. He insists that Uclan¡¯s embrace of 바카라사이트 Preston Model ¡°probably enhances our opportunity: making 바카라사이트 city more prosperous, making it better known, making it more attractive, making this a more desirable location for students to come¡±.

The key question is surely whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 competitive and selective orientation of conventional universities is delivering improved social cohesion, access for 바카라사이트 disadvantaged or economic benefits for 바카라사이트ir local areas. If 바카라사이트 answer is ¡°no¡±, 바카라사이트n maybe it is indeed time to consider what 바카라사이트 alternatives might look like.