Co-operatives as sustainable means to support university education

Abstract

The Triple Helix Model for university-industry-government interactions, highlighting the enhanced role of the university in the transition from industrial to knowledge-based society, has become widespread in co-operative innovation and entrepreneurship studies. In this paper, we discuss the role of co-operatives in supporting University education within the Triple Helix Model of Innovation to enhance socio-economic development. The Model demonstrates how communications operate between University, Industry and Government. These linkages are shaped by market selections, innovative dynamics, and network controls at the global level. At the local level, the relations are normally shaped by Local translations at the interfaces such as adaptation mechanisms within the institutions. The Model proposes that Universities impart knowledge and skills to students while the industry provides an opportunity to students to translate knowledge into practice through project work. We are proposing that Universities should use co-operatives for students’ practice. Since, collaborating with co-operatives provide the chance to develop competences in shaping the Industrialisation process that would otherwise be only taught in theory or applied only in the context of the classroom.