Journal of Co-operative Studies, 51(2), 19-28

Abstract

In this paper we offer an argument that a co-operative University could make a distinctive contribution by focusing on the development of educational contexts and epistemology with co-operative values forming the explanatory principles and standards by which practice and knowledge is recognised, understood and judged. We believe that individual practitioner-researchers can make a contribution to the realisation of co-operative values in practice by generating and sharing their explanations of educational influences in learning as they work and research, to live as fully as possible values that contribute to the flourishing of humanity. The values focused on are those of the International Co‑operative Alliance.  We show how Living Theory research is particularly appropriate for researchers developing educational contexts and knowledge. Through this paper we offer an evidence-based argument to demonstrate how a Co-operative University could support the creation and legitimisation of educational knowledge and so strengthen the realisation in practice of personal and cultural co‑operative values. We illustrate how this can be done by supporting practitioner-researchers exploring the implications of asking, researching, and answering questions of the kind, “How do I improve what I am doing and live my co-operative values as fully as possible?” and legitimising the educational knowledge created.

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