On 11 September 2025, ICBEC hosted an energising and timely webinar: Teaching Participation: Education for Democratic Involvement in Cooperatives. The session, led by invited speaker PhD Stefanie Friedel, brought fresh perspectives to a familiar yet often under-examined question: Are we equipping people to truly participate in cooperative life—or just to consume it?
Drawing from recent research, Friedel unpacked what shapes member participation: from individual motivations and access to resources, to how organizations create space for real voice in decision-making. She also shared a practical teaching example from the Centre of Expertise for Cooperative Entrepreneurship (KCO) at KU Leuven, sparking lively reflections from ICBEC members across sectors and countries.
What followed was a rich exchange among ICBEC members. Some shared the challenges of working with diverse audiences – from students to seasoned practitioners – while others reflected on the surprisingly low levels of cooperative knowledge, even among co-op members themselves. Questions of time, cost, and access to learning were woven throughout the conversation.
The session wrapped up with a strong sense of momentum. There’s a shared interest in continuing the work: co-developing new teaching formats, building a shared toolkit, and reflecting together on how to close the gaps in our curricula.
This event, in collaboration with KCO – one of our ICBEC members – reminded us why this network matters.
Participation isn’t something we can take for granted: it must be learned, practiced, and constantly renewed. And we can’t teach it alone.
Stay tuned for more events and updates from the ICBEC network!