In 2004, BCICS joined forces with the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to develop a collaborative online resource. This virtual resource centre will be a valuable tool for the international co-operative community called The Co-operative Learning Centre (CLC).

Background

The CLC is a multi-lingual, online resource containing valuable sources of information on the effective use of the co-operative model. It is also a multimedia Internet gateway providing access to a comprehensive and constantly evolving database of information on co-operatives. It provides access to information, training, research, resources and networks in order to facilitate co-operative education and development for anyone with access to a web browser. All resources on the CLC are classified according to type, theme(s), and geographical region(s), making it easy to navigate and search for information. The CLC website prototype, which has received much positive feedback, can be viewed at:

http://www.learningcentre.coop/

Big Steps Forward This Month

With the prototype online, development of the CLC is quickly moving forward. In September, BCICS representativesIan MacPherson and Robin Puga were coordinators of a two day CLC Planning Workshop at the ICA’s General Assembly. The assembly this year took place in Cartagena, Colombia. The goal of the 30 person workshop was to agree upon a clear outline for the structure of the CLC, both its website structure and its governing bodies. A timeline for development was also discussed. The workshop resulted in a refined vision of the CLC. The addition of a major section on Poverty Reduction and an area of the site where Co-op Studies teachers can post suggested course outlines (to aid others interested in planning courses) were two of the many great ideas that came out of the discussion.

The BCICS team also presented the CLC to the ICA’s General Assembly in a three hour presentation followed by an open discussion forum. This event was attended by over 250 people. For the benefit of the international audience, the presentation and discussion were simultaneously translated into Spanish and Japanese. During the passionate discussion forum, many in attendance voiced their strong desire to see this project underway so they could have information about co-operatives they cannot otherwise access.

Through the presentation and workshop in Colombia, the BCICS team made connections with over twenty groups from around the globe who are interested in providing resources for the CLC. Language partners for the Russian, Portuguese, German, Spanish, and Hindi language portals are now committed to the project. As a result of the discussions, the BCICS team is developing relations with French, Chinese, Korean, Swahili, Persian, Italian, Japanese, and Arabic partners. Although no further financial funding for the project was secured during the conference, many people offered commitments of their time and educational resources for developing the CLC. The development team continues to seek funding for the project.

BCICS continues to refine the CLC Requirement Specifications – the document used for both technical and non-technical discussion of the website structure and functionality. The Requirement Specifications will serve as the main document for further development of the CLC website.

What the Future Holds

The completed version of the CLC will be managed by BCICS through the University of Victoria’s Internet facilities, ensuring a reliable, secure and fast Internet connection, as well as solid security for the CLC data.

Robin Puga