Alternative University as a Cooperative Movement

– Guest lecture by Se-kyun Kim(professor emeritus, Department of Political Science), 2014.8.25.

On August 25^th, SNUAC hosted <Democracy and Economic Development Program>, inviting professor emeritus Se-kyun Kim from the Department of Political Science, Seoul National University as a special lecturer. The title of the special lecture was ‘Alternative University as a Cooperative Movement: Attempt to Open a New Prospect in the Field of University Education.’

The issue of the lecture was based on the ‘authoritative’ characteristic in university administration and management which is one of the critical problems of universities in Korea, and the demand to suggest a new model. The administration and management of ‘alternative university’ as a cooperative movement suggests a new perspective by offering equal rights and duties of both producers and consumers of cooperative members, and thereby eliminating all discriminations within the university. Also, the lecture was a meaningful attempt in regard to ascertaining various cooperative movements and expanding the understanding of social economy.

The interesting case in the lecture was the Knowledge-Circulation Cooperative (KC). The Knowledge-Circulation Cooperative is a series of ‘educational’ cooperative movement of members who pursue enhancement of their collective intelligence, which is planning their very first lecture in the alternative university in this October (http://cafe.naver.com/freeuniv/). In the alternative university, all producers of cooperative members, who take charge in lectures, and consumers of cooperative members, who take courses, hold equal rights and duties, while actively engaging in two years of basic education process. Professor Kim mentioned that an educational cooperative can substitute Korea’s traditional authoritative characteristics in university administration and management, because it operates under democratic discussions and co-ordinations, seeking mutual support and proliferating sympathy. Producer in cooperative are encouraged to take other courses, while consumers in cooperative members are recommended to actively discuss their opinions, not to mention having the possibility of creating their self-designed courses. In terms of research conditions, the alternative university pays special attention to offering satisfactory research conditions in order for producer cooperatives to maintain researchers’ dignity.

The expected business contents of the Knowledge-Circulation Cooperative, which has its purpose of establishment not on economic issues but on educational issues, is as follows: 1) KC sponsored public lectures, 2) cosponsored public lectures, 3) commissioned education, 4) two-year course of alternative university education, 5) professional education programs for training cooperative activists, 6) professional education programs by subjects (e.g. nuclear exit education program). Other business contents are, 1) educating cooperative members, 2) workshop and symposium, 3) Membership Training(MT) in farming and fishing village, 4) organizing community among researchers, activists, and citizens, 5) joint projects with other cooperatives.

The lecture also covered various unsolved-issues surrounding the alternative university such as the possibility of securing enough attendees and offering higher level courses. Despite the on-going concerns on the alternative university, it is important to pay more attention to the success of the alternative university, in a regard that it provides a fresh approach to the university reform.

The lecture was sponsored by <Democracy and Economic Development Program>, one of the programs of SNUAC. It studies on sustainable development of Asian democracy and economy under the comprehension of the cultural difference of Asian countries, by comparing development models of Asian developing countries, including Korea, and those of advanced countries. It also offers related educational and international activities. For example, it has invited foreign cooperative professionals; hosted international workshop, special lectures, and colloquiums; scheduled international exchange among civil society researchers and professionals; and also produced opportunities for visiting researchers while publishing related books.

For more information, please visit <Democracy and Economic Development Program> website. http://snuac.snu.ac.kr/demeconc/