Co-op Studies Team Awarded Largest-Ever U of S SSHRC Grant to Study Social Economy

Posted November 08, 2005


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 8, 2005
2005-11-08-OTHER

Co-op Studies Team Awarded Largest-Ever U of S SSHRC Grant to Study Social
Economy

A University of Saskatchewan research team has been awarded $1.75 million
from the federal Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to
study social enterprises - the largest such grant to the university to date.

The team, led by Lou Hammond Ketilson, director of the U of S Centre for the
Study of Co-operatives, will investigate how social economy enterprises help
build more respectful relationships within communities, with the
environment, and among stakeholders. Such enterprises include
not-for-profits, co-operatives, community economic development
organizations, community-based organizations, and other voluntary-sector
initiatives.

"This grant is a strong endorsement of our unique capabilities in social
sciences and humanities research," said U of S President Peter MacKinnon.
"In Saskatchewan, the 'social economy' is part of our sense of place, our
history of working together for the common good through co-operatives,
volunteerism, and other community initiatives."

The project is part of a five-year national study of social economy
enterprises. Participating universities, co-operatives, and other partners
have committed in-kind contributions of $4.7 million, for a project total of
$6.45 million.

The project includes almost $1 million in student funding, topped up by
$100,000 from the U of S. Over the course of the project, this will support
13 graduate and 15 undergraduate students, as well as provide funds for 22
summer research assistantships and an additional 23 stipends for students
working in community-based placements on specific research issues.

"Our proposal was successful because it is interdisciplinary and based on
innovative university-community partnerships," said Ketilson, an associate
professor of management and marketing. "We have an exceptional project team,
as well as strong and growing links with community and co-operative leaders,
managers, and employees to work with our academic researchers."

The project is co-ordinated through the Centre and the Community-University
Institute for Social Research (CUISR).

"This grant represents an evolution in CUISR's work," said CUISR community
co-director Kate Waygood. "It will deepen and broaden the understanding of
what makes and keeps communities healthy and vibrant."

The research involves 24 academics from 10 disciplines and 12 universities,
as well as 33 community partners and other national and international
organizations across British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, northern
Ontario, and the US.

One of six regional research nodes across the country, the Saskatchewan-led
project has long-standing working relationships with most of the other
successful applicants in SSHRC's social economy funding initiative.

"This project will advance understanding of this little-studied area of the
Canadian economy, assist policy makers, and bolster student awareness of the
special contributions of these organizations to society," said U of S SSHRC
co-ordinator Peter Stoicheff.

The researchers will look at five areas: social enterprise development;
financing strategies for this development; governance of social-economy
enterprises; measuring and mapping the social economy; and developing policy
frameworks for the social economy.

Co-operatives, businesses owned and controlled by their member customers or
employees, are an integral part of the social economy, which is a key policy
interest of SSHRC's Community University Research Alliance program.

The Centre for the Study of Co-operatives (www.usaskstudies.coop) is an
interdisciplinary teaching and research institute funded by the U of S,
major national and provincial co-operatives, and Saskatchewan Industry and
Resources. CUISR (www.usask.ca/cuisr) is a partnership among
community-based organizations, faculty, and graduate students from the U of
S.

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For more information, contact:

Lou Hammond Ketilson
Centre for the Study of Co-operatives
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8509
hammondk@commerce.usask.ca

Note to editors: Professor Ketilson will be available for interviews from
Winnipeg after 2:00 p.m. Saskatoon time, by calling (306) 227-6133.

Nora Russell
Centre for the Study of Co-operatives
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-8504
russelln@duke.usask.ca