COOPERATION, EDUCATION AND FAIR TRADE: INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES TO PROMOTE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL EQUITY

Abstract

The work presented here shows the results of a case study that describes the impact on local development of a pre-university
educational project that was carried out with Fair Trade premium funds.Qualitative research, descriptive type.The case of the National Agrotechnical School “Ing. Julio C. Martínez” located in the Tilimuqui district, Chilecito department, province of La Rioja, Argentina, describes from the institutional analysis and the perspective of the social economy and development the founding conditions and the main changes in the institutional environment ten years after its creation. The objectives are to analyze the inter-institutional linkages between La Riojana Vitivinifrutícola de La Rioja Ltda.  Cooperative, the National University of Chilecito and the Fair
Trade Association, three social actors that together made possible an agro-technical educational offer and reflected on the benefits of cooperativism, fair trade and education. Ten years after its creation, it is possible to see the socioeconomic impact produced by the National Agrotechnical School “Ing. Julio C. Martínez” which includes among others: new sources of work, greater possibility of communication and transfer of the environments of the area and access to the local population to agro-technical secondary education. These aspects contribute to reduce the existing social inequality in the area.