While re-arranging office I rediscovered a paper by Ken H Hall (of Escom) written in August 1993, which reading it again struck me as remarkably insightful.
The then model of cooperative education a triangular-relationship of cooperation between the academic institution/provider, the employer/host of work-integrated learning and the student studying towards a qualification with both 'taught' and experience through service in a workplace prerequisites. Ken proposes a new integrative model, comprising three dimensions Download ken_hallcooped_diamond.pdf:
- The horizontal programme/qualification slate - with the four corners representing four types of stakeholders, namely (a) formal/non-formal educational institutions; (b) student and employee bodies, (c) the relevant state(s) - SADC? - departments; and (d) professional and employer bodies. This slate may very in thickness, depending on the depth and dimensions of the curriculum requirements.
- A quality cone - is the foundation, it comprise the relevant quality standards and quality assurance mechanisms.
- An achievement pyramid - qualifications should serve society by rendering competent people, capable to generate wealth and promoting social prospects.
The three dimensions together form a diamond. A diamond is seen in perspective - no part in isolation. A diamond reflects is full beauty if cut and polished to its optimum - the same applies to cooperative ventures. Fifteen years ago Ken Hall (1993) already had the vision to write about global competition and the need for well educated and trained people to ensure prosperity. He also suggests (perhaps naively or optimistically) that education and training contributes to quality of life; promotion of social harmony; ethical work practice and preparing people for responsible citizenship.
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