After two long years of restricted travel due to Covid, the College was delighted to recommence our much sought-after study visits for international groups. And what a way to start - with two groups, both from Brazil, but from very different co-operative sectors.

The first group visited us in March for two full days or co-operative leadership learning, interactive team building and immersive history.

The 20+ professionals from SESCOOPMG, all work for various enterprises within the Brazilian co-operative finance sector and were keen to investigate ways that their co-ops can work together to increase the impact of Brazil's annual Day of Co-operation.

According to the International Co-operative Alliance, the co-operative banking sector accounts for around 13% of the overall number of co-operators operating within the country, and just under 10million of the total 14million co-operative members in Brazil are members of a financial co-op.

With practical examples of co-operative leadership, investigation into the global movement and an examination of parallels between the historical co-operative movement then and now, all delivered through our distinctive co-operative learning approach - learners left feeling inspired to collaborate and lead positive change.

Our second group of visitors were from the Brazilian healthcare sector - dentists from Uniodonto Co-operative who visited us in early May.

This group spent a day with us in Manchester as part of a wider UK visit. The key theme covered was co-operative leadership, with our Curriculum Development Manager, Dr Amanda Benson, showing the group what co-operative leadership looks like in action. There were plenty of interactive activities, collaborative working, thought-provoking discussions and coffee breaks (all good leaders know when to stop for coffee). We even managed to fit in a lunchtime wander around the co-operative quarter in the Manchester sunshine!

If you would like to find out more about our international study visits, drop us an email at [email protected].