2024ukscsconference: 2024 UK Society for Co-operatives Studies Research Conference Central Co-op Lichfield, UK, March 1-2, 2024 |
Conference website | https://www.ukscs.coop/ |
Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=2024ukscsconference |
UK Society for Co-operative Studies
55th Annual Conference
Friday 1st – Saturday 2nd March 2024
Hosted by: Central Co-op, Lichfield, UK
Sustainability of the Co-operative Ecosystem:
the Role of Secondary Co-operatives and Federations
Call for presentations, papers, panels, and practical activities.
Submission deadline: 15th December 2023
Welcome to the UKSCS 2024 Annual Conference Call. We invite submissions of proposals for presentations, papers, panels, and practical activities that focus on the role of secondary co-operatives and federations as an important aspect of a sustainable co-operative ecosystem. Proposals can be oriented towards generating debates and engaging members, facilitating experiential learning activities, or reporting the findings of research studies.
We particularly welcome contributions by practitioners who wish to share developments within their co-operative enterprise and/or network on:
- the emergence of new thinking
- how new thinking has been applied to accounting, management, marketing or governance in co-operatives
- how new practices have impacted on producer, worker, and consumer co-operative members (and other stakeholders).
Janette Hurst, Sheffield Hallam University, Trustee UKSCS
Elisavet Mantzari, University of Birmingham, Trustee UKSCS
Nick Matthews, Trustee UKSCS
Mike Wistow, Chair UKSCS
Sustainability of the Co-operative Ecosystem:
the Role of Secondary Co-operatives and Federations
Call for presentations, papers, panels, and practical activities.
Principle 6 of the ICA Statement of Identity explains “Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional and international structures” (ICA, 2018)[1]. These range from informal groupings, to established networks, and incorporated federations. Secondary co-operatives and federations are an important aspect of a sustainable co-operative ecosystem helping to develop and support the co-operative movement. Co-operatives UK emphasise in their Co-operative and Mutual Economy 2023 report (Co-operatives UK, 2023a)[2] and their policy priorities (Co-operatives UK, 2023b)[3] that supporting secondary co-operative networks and other specialist intermediaries can contribute to accelerating “the proliferation of replicable co-operative solutions in broken systems like social care, energy, housing, data and culture”. The importance of secondary co-operatives, networks, or federations has been also demonstrated, for example, in studies exploring the role of meso-level institutions in worker co-operatives (Roelants, 2000)[4]; the prevalence of networks in European co-operative banks (Poli, 2019)[5]; the impact of federations in agricultural co-operatives (Moyano-Estrada et al., 2008)[6], and; the value of support structures in housing co-operatives (Ganapati, 2010)[7].
We invite contributions that focus on the role of secondary co-operatives, networks, or federations in re-building the co-operative ecosystem for a sustainable future. The UKSCS 2024 Annual Conference provides a forum for scholars from multiple disciplines and theoretical approaches, as well as for practitioners, to advance the ongoing conversation on inter-cooperation between co-operators and co-operatives, as well as on co-operative learning and knowledge sharing through media, archives, and publishing. While we call for presentations, papers, panels, and activities that advance our understanding on issues covered in this year’s conference theme, we encourage any other contributions relevant to all aspects of the co-operative movement and co-operative forms of structure as set out in the Society’s objectives (UKSCS, 2023)[8].
Fees
Conference fees for members/non-members will be confirmed when registration opens.
Bursaries for members
There is some limited funding available to cover the registration fee for members who are presenting at the conference and do not have access to other funds. Please email membership@ukscs.coop to find out more if you wish to apply for this bursary.
Accommodation options
There will be suggestions of accommodation on the registration page. There are hotels near to the venue within a range of budgets.
How to make submissions to the UKSCS 2024 Conference
We welcome proposals from both scholars and practitioners engaged in the study and practice of co-operative movements. Please create an abstract (maximum 750 words) that proposes a presentation, paper, panel, or practical activity and submit it by 15 December 2023.
Submissions can be made:
(This is encouraged for academic contributions)
- If you have submitted previously, login with the same account details.
- If you are submitting for the first time, click ‘Create an account’ and follow the instructions to confirm your account.
- After logging in or registering your account, choose ‘Enter as an author’ to make a conference submission.
- Or, via email at: membership@ukscs.coop.
Fill out the contact details for presenters/authors, provide a title, abstract and keywords. At least one presenter/author will need to register for the conference for the submission to be accepted. Please do not submit a proposal if you have no plans to attend the conference.
Key Dates
Deadline for Proposals (Abstracts): 15th December 2023
Notification of Acceptance: 15th January 2024
Opening of Registration: 15th January 2024
Final Registration Date: 28th February 2024
Abstract format (suggested and if applicable):
Please organise your proposal/abstract so that it provides details that can be peer-reviewed (maximum 750 words):
- Title (for your presentation, paper, panel, or practical activity)
- Corresponding author
- A short statement about the issue/question your submission addresses
- A summary of the approach you are taking to study the issue/question you raise
- A summary of your findings and/or contribution to knowledge
- References to previous papers/studies
If you wish to upload a full paper with your abstract, set the filename to:
UKSCS2024-FirstAuthorName-SubmissionType.pdf
Examples
- UKSCS2024-Green-Paper.pdf
- UKSCS2024-Plum-Presentation.pdf
[1] ICA (2018). Cooperative identity, values & principles. International Co-operative Alliance. https://www. ica.coop/en/cooperatives/cooperative-identity
[2] Co-operatives UK (2023a). Co-operative and Mutual Economy 2023. Co-operatives UK. https://www.uk.coop/sites/default/files/2023-10/Economy%202023_compressed%20%282%29.pdf
[3] Co-operatives UK (2023b). A Call for Co-operative Growth. Co-operatives UK. https://www.uk.coop/CoopGrowth
[4] Roelants, B. (2000). Worker co-operatives and socio-economic development: The role of meso-level institutions. Economic Analysis, 3(1), 67-83.
[5] Poli, F. (2019). Co-operative banking networks in Europe: Models and performance. Springer Nature.
[6] Moyano‐Estrada, E., Entrena, F., & Serrano del Rosal, R. (2001). Federations of Co‐operatives and Organized Interests in Agriculture. An analysis of the Spanish Experience. Sociologia ruralis, 41(2), 237-253.
[7] Ganapati, S. (2010). Enabling housing cooperatives: Policy lessons from Sweden, India and the United States. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 34(2), 365-380.
[8] UKSCS (2023). About us. UK Society for Co-operative Studies. https://www.ukscs.coop/pages/about-us