A meeting to promote solidarity business in the rural world

Albert Rose

The auditorium of the Library of the Madrid-Vicálvaro campus of the Rey Juan Carlos University hosts this Tuesday, November 2, the 'VII University Meeting, Cooperativism and Social Economy in the Community of Madrid', a conference that aims to address the recovery and transformation of the rural environment from the model of sustainable and solidary company. 

This year is the seventh edition that the URJC celebrates together with the Federation of Cooperatives and the Social Economy of Madrid, FECOMA. “During the day we are going to address a series of topics addressed both to the sector and to university professors and students. It is very important to us to bring the model of cooperativism closer as a form of company with solidarity principles and values ​​typical of the social economy”, says Fernando Sacristán, professor at the URJC and promoter of the event.  

One of the tables that stars in the day will deal with the elements for the transformation of the emptied Spain. It will present studies carried out by different chairs from other universities in relation to the causes and actions proposed to prevent this emptying of rural environments. 

Another of the main topics will be digitization and the challenges it poses as a financing formula for cooperatives. To do this, experts from different universities will participate, including two researchers from the URJC. In the afternoon it will be the turn for a round table on recovery and transformation from the role of young people, women and the elderly in rural areas. In it, representatives of families and cooperative sectors will offer their experiences to talk about current projects that are moving towards that recovery of the agrarian environment.  

The university, a key piece in the dissemination of the social economy model  

The public university performs two important functions in the support of cooperativism and social enterprise, says Professor Sacristán: "On the one hand, support as researchers in the legal and economic areas and, on the other, the transmission of the values ​​that represent the social economy and cooperatives as sustainable business alternatives for students”, he concludes.  

The 'VII University, Cooperativism and Social Economy Meeting in the Community of Madrid' is an activity promoted by the URJC from the cooperative sector itself, thanks to the direct participation of FECOMA. Registration to participate in the meeting is open at this link, where you can also consult the entire schedule.