Co-operatives and Community Development at BCIT

Pam doing station orientation for BCIT students at Co-op Radio

On tonight’s show we hosted the entire class from BCIT’s post-secondary course Co-operatives and Community Development at Vancouver Co-op Radio.  The course is part of BCIT’s  Advanced Sustainable Business Leadership Program and we learned all about this program from the students, found out about what is driving them to study sustainability, and how co-ops can provide a unique role in sustainable businesses. 

We start this evening with the Co-op News with Dale McGladdery followed by an interview with Tracey Kliesch who is teaching the course at BCIT. And we round out the evening hearing from the students. It was a very fun evening. 

Course Description: Cooperative and Community Development

So many people at the station

Cooperative and Community Development course is designed to provide students with the specific knowledge and skills they will need to be able to participate meaningfully and effectively at leadership level in the decision-making, management and entrepreneurial processes of cooperatives and social enterprises.
The students will learn how to develop the capacity in both communities and individuals to aid in their economic, social and sustainable development.
This course provides a foundation for Capstone Projects focused on the community and its development both locally and internationally.

Bio – Tracey Kliesch

• Teacher of Cooperatives and Community Economic Development at BCIT
• General Manager of CCEC Credit Union on Commercial Drive
• More than 12 years at Vancity in both operations and community investment
• Graduate of St Mary’s University – Masters, Management of Cooperatives and Credit Unions
• Trustee on Credit Union Foundation of BC 

Questions for Students

Students from BCIT on Each For All

Students joining us on air from the course tonight were: Shelagh, Jennifer, Nader, Alicia, Mandy

• What interested you in this course?
• Are you taking the Advanced Sustainable Business Leadership Program?
• Are you working on a Capstone Project? What’s it about?
• How do you define sustainability?
• What are the challenges to a sustainable business community?
• Why are co-operatives important?
• How do you describe co-operatives and what you’re learning to your friends and family?
• Which cooperative principle is most important? *trick question, but well answered by Jennifer*