The internship in the training of cooperative managers

the experience under the Program ATER More Management, at the Federal University of the Recôncavo da Bahia, State of Bahia, Brazil

Abstract

Parallel to the growth of Brazilian collective organizations, the need for administrative management of these enterprises emerges, for that reason it is fundamental to train managers of cooperatives that can develop advisory activities through support institutions. In this context, the present article reports on internship experience in these advisory bodies by two students from the Cooperative Management Technology course at the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, State of Bahia, Brazil, supported by the University Network project in the ATER More Management Program evaluation. The methodological approach was based on a case study and qualitative research, in which the trainees worked in cooperatives served by the Community Organization Movement (MOC) and the Union for Family Agricultural Cooperatives and Solidary Economy (Unicafes). As a result, the research pointed out that the internship brought significant contributions to the training of cooperative managers as they experienced the advisory practice of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and entities. This experience presents as a professional contribution a brief essay to these students to work in the area as managers of cooperatives. In the social context, the internship can provide students with the development of critical and reflective capacity, which will support the creation of strategies for the sustainability of family farming enterprises.