Australian latest graduate of Masters in Co-op Management

01 April 2014

In May Valerieanne Byrnes will graduate with a Master of Management, Co-operatives and Credit Unions. This online, part-time master’s program is offered by Saint Mary’s University in Canada. Instructors and students  hail from various countries to create an international co-operative learning experience.

In Valerieanne’s words, “The most compelling part of the program is the opportunity to learn from cooperative and credit union academics, practitioners and leaders from across the globe and to experience first-hand, values based businesses dealing with local, national and international pressures.”

Valerieanne has more than 25 years with the financial mutual sector and advocates for sustainable organisational performance through the development of people, nurturing innovation and the implementation of principle based policies. She is currently CEO of Western College and Director of Metro Community Housing Cooperative.

The Saint Mary’s program attracts managers and executives with co-operative experience, and some students may wonder what more they need to learn. Valerieanne said that: “structurally I knew and understood how we were different, but the Master’s program has deepened my understanding of the benefits of co-operation to levels I could not have imagined possible. The program provides rich ideas to our planning process, an abundance of content for staff and member development, and fuels confidence to initiate broader cooperation.”

To learn more about the Saint Mary’s programs (Master’s and shorter Graduate Diploma), visit www.ManagementStudies.coop or contact Karen Miner, Managing Director, Co-operative Management Education, St Mary’s University. The 2014 program commences with a face-to-face orientation from August 8-13, 2014 in Halifax, NS, Canada.