Revista de la Mañana. Cooperativismo estudiantil una forma de organización social

Abstract

The Cooperative of Integrated Professional Services (Cicop) of the Technological Faculty at Universidad Distrital—represented by Alexander, Marco, and Catalina—has demonstrated remarkable resilience and commitment to the cooperative movement despite significant challenges. These include the inability to open their primary business line (the cafeteria) due to academic strikes and contractual issues. Instead of halting operations, the cooperative has diversified its business lines toward social and solidarity entrepreneurship, organizing various workshops (BMX, environmental art, photography) and cultural events, including a major Stand-Up Comedy show. These activities have been widely embraced by the university community, successfully meeting previous financial commitments and proving that students are capable of transforming obstacles into growth opportunities.

The Stand-Up Comedy event held on Thursday, December 13, is a cornerstone for the cooperative; it aims to raise funds to capitalize the existing cafeteria business and, crucially, to launch a new business line. This effort is part of a macro-model of cooperative entrepreneurship that seeks to be fostered not only at Universidad Distrital but also extended to other academic institutions. The initiative underscores the importance of associated work and community support, inviting students and the general public to see that sustainable entrepreneurship models are achievable in Colombia. Furthermore, other cooperatives such as Copro (Environmental Projects Cooperative) from the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources are currently in formation, focusing on forest management and solid waste lines, evidencing the growth and practical application of academic knowledge within the cooperative movement