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Credit Union Summer School
The Centre for Co-operative Studies, University College Cork, hosted its annual Credit Union Summer School last Friday 25th May. Over 150 delegates attended to hear addresses from a wide range of credit union academics and practitioners.
The Summer School was opened by Marian Harkin MEP, who highlighted the real hope that credit unions offered to ordinary people in a depressed national and European economy and acknowledged the continuing hard work of the dedicated staff and volunteers in credit unions throughout the country. The morning was dedicated to exploration and analysis of the recent Report of the Commission on Credit Unions, chaired by Prof. Michael Ward of the UCC Centre for Co-operative Studies, with presentations from the Chair of the Commission, Prof. Donal McKillop, Ms. Elaine Byrne, Deputy Registrar for Credit Unions, Mr. Kevin Johnson, CEO of the Credit Union Development Association and Mr. Tom Kiely, Head of Monitoring with the Irish League of Credit Unions. This was followed by an open forum which allowed delegates to openly debate and discuss the Commission’s report.
Click here for MEP Marian Harkin's Opening Address
Two parallel sessions took place in the afternoon, including one specifically for credit union supervisors and organised in association with the National Supervisors’ Forum. Prof. Ray Kinsella from UCD, Mr. Sam Hardwick, Project Operations Manager with the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd., Dr. Olive McCarthy and Ms. Noreen Byrne from the UCC Centre for Co-operative Studies, Mr. John Nash, semi-finalist in Your Country, Your Call, and Mr. Liam Edwards formerly of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).
It was clear that there is a real appetite for change among credit unions and the benefits of restructuring are easily identifiable. In particular, increasing collaboration among credit unions was seen as key to the continued development and success of the movement, and there are clear lessons to be learned from international experience in this regard.
CREDIT UNION SUMMER SCHOOL 2012 PRESENTATIONS
CU SS 2012 Presentation: Dr Olive McCarthy
CU SS 2012 Presentation: John Nash
CU SS 2012 Presentation: Donal McKillop
CU SS 2012 Presentation: Sam Hardwick
CU SS 2012 Presentation: Tom Kiely
Photo: Donal Murphy, National Supervisors’ Forum, listening to Prof Ray Kinsella at the parallel session for credit union supervisors.