Basque cooperativism in SEOUL, inauguration and strategic agreements for the cooperative movement

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Basque cooperativism in SEOUL, inauguration and strategic agreements for the cooperative movement

World Congress

Basque cooperativism in SEOUL, inauguration and strategic agreements for the cooperative movement

The XXXIII World Cooperative Congress held in Seoul from December 1st to 3rd

2021·12·16

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The XXXIII World Cooperative Congress held in Seoul from December 1st to 3rd gathered in the Korean capital a large number of organizations interested in the evolution of cooperativism in the current situation.

It was a historic event with more than 200 organizations represented, and 450 attendees from 60 different nationalities, where the presence and representation of the Basque and Spanish cooperative movement, with the MONDRAGON Group at the head, was numerous and strategic.

Within the framework of the congress, on December 3, on the occasion of the international day of the Basque language, it was celebrated in a very special way with the presentation and signing of strategic agreements for the cooperative movement.

The Higher Council of Cooperatives (CSCE-EKGK), KONFEKOOP, UPV, COCETA, Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Labor and HE, Instituto Cervantes, MONDRAGON and Mondragon Unibertsitatea (through the Entrepreneurship unit Mondragon Team Academy) met at the Seoul Social Innovation Park which houses the current entrepreneurship laboratory of the Mondragon Team Academy network where the degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation (LEINN) of Mondragon Unibertsitatea is taught.

The event was organized by MTA-Mondragon Team Academy Korea and the cooperative partners HBM Coop (Happy Bridge Mondragon), Travelling U. (Tazebaez Coop) and Mondragon Unibertsitatea (Enpresagintza S.Coop) who have been developing cooperative training, entrepreneurship and innovation in South Korea since 2016.

The delegation of cooperative entities visited the facilities and learned first-hand about the MTA project in Korea that has trained more than 1,500 Korean people since 2016. With this event, the LEINN Seoul degree was officially inaugurated, which has been taught in the country since September 2020 and where it currently has more than 200 LEINNers integrating both Korean students, and students from the Basque, Spanish and Mexican laboratories who in their third year develop their 10-week learning trip in Seoul.

During the event, an agreement was signed between Changwon National University and the Business Faculty of Mondragon Unibertsitatea (through the MTA Entrepreneurship unit) for the promotion of entrepreneurial education in the country.

Attendees (from right to left):

  • Mr. Inchang Song (Director of HBM Coop - Happy Bridge Mondragon and Co-founder of MTA Korea and Happy Bridge Coop).
  • Aitor Lizartza (Co-founder and Coordinator of MTA Entrepreneurship at the Business School of Mondragon Unibertsitatea)
  • Mr. Park (President of HBM Coop - Happy Bridge Mondragon. President of Red Cross Korea (the only unified institution in South and North Korea).
  • Dr. Jose Maria Luzarraga (Co-founder and international leader of the MTA network. Social entrepreneur, ASHOKA Fellow).

A strategic agreement was also signed between COCETA, the state confederation of cooperatives to which KONFEKOOP is affiliated, and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. The signing was sponsored by the Director of Social Economy Maravillas Espín.

Attendees:

  • Andrés Pereda (Director Corporate Development Spanish Chamber of Commerce).
  • Minah Oh (Spain Chamber of Commerce in Seoul)
  • Malena Riudavets (Vice President COCETA)

Then, the presentation of the book Humanity at Music, an edition endorsed by Happy Bridge Mondragon (HBM-MTA korea) strategic Korean partner of Mondragon Unibertsitatea in the country, took place.

This edition is published in Basque, Spanish and Korean and is probably the first book ever published in these three languages. The event was presented by Oscar Rodriguez from the Cervantes Classroom in Seoul and by the Vice Minister of Labor of the Basque Government Elena Perez Barreda.

 

The day culminated with the transfer of the Bi HANKA anthem by the Superior Council to CICOPA. Thus, a hymn in Basque with lyrics by Jon Sarasua and music by the Basque composer Fernando Velázquez becomes the world anthem of cooperativism. Golden brooch for the celebration of the international day of cooperativism.

Attendees:

  • Belen Balerdi (CSCE).
  • Elena Perez Barreda (Deputy Minister of Labor of the Basque Government).
  • Oscar Rodriguez (Responsible for the Cervantes Institute in Seoul)