Canadian students are struggling. Many cannot afford housing, are struggling with mental health crises and increasing numbers don’t have enough money for food.

At the same time, universities are spending time and money chasing media-driven rankings that don’t offer tools for responding to these challenges or improve the quality of education or research in Canada.

But there’s a proven alternative that generates trillions in the global economy but remains largely invisible in higher education: co-operatives.

Canada’s 2025 budget mentions co-operative housing as a way to deal with the housing crisis, but co-ops go beyond housing. They could provide a place for students to practise democratic governance, to have a sense of community, to find dignified work and affordable food and housing — and to make research more accessible.

Co-operatives come in different forms, but they all sign on to key principles, many of which are similar to those espoused by educational institutions.

These include democratic member control, economic participation by members, autonomy and independence, voluntary and open membership, education and training and concern for the community.

Read more:

© The Conversation