CUSOURCE® Credit Union Knowledge Network (CUSOURCE Knowledge Network) continues to deliver excellence and value to the Canadian credit union system.  This was confirmed with a recent announcement from Athabasca University that recognized the newly re-designed CUIC strategic management course as a three-credit, undergraduate course.

This fall, the new Strategic Management for Credit Union Professionals course will replace its predecessor, CUIC 315 – Credit Union Strategic Management.  Enriched content and a “virtual” class environment add depth and dimension to this examination of corporate strategy.  No longer self-study, this facilitated course lets participants “talk strategy” via an e-discussion forum and voice-to-voice using CUSOURCE Live.  At the heart of the course is a current Canadian text, “Strategic Management:  Creating Competitive Advantages” which is supplemented by topical, thought-provoking readings, case study and group discussion. 

“This course deals with the strategic analysis, decisions and actions leaders undertake to make their company’s offerings and performance superior to their competitors’.  Participants learn how to think and manage strategically. Recognition by Athabasca University confirms the quality and value of this course.”                             Cheryl Byrne, Executive Director, CUSOURCE Knowledge Network

Developed in partnership with Dalhousie University and with the direction of a national credit union advisory group, the new strategic management course speaks to the needs of today’s credit union professionals – as described in the course participants’ owns words:   

“At some point your basic knowledge from the “school of hard knocks” can’t take you any further and you need a combination of academic and practical experience.  This course helps us learn to pull it all together.”                                   Karl Dopf, Prospera Credit Union, British Columbia

“All senior managers and those doing strategic planning would find this course useful.”
                      Colleen Edmunds, Credit Union Central of Manitoba

“I would also bring this course to our middle management.  Everybody who has input into our strategic plan needs a course like this.  If we all had some formal background in what is involved in strategic thinking, strategic planning and the process, the contributions would be greater from all involved and we would end up with a better result.”     Paul Hallas, Teachers’ Credit Union, Ontario

“Individuals who take this course will be able to provide better input and discussions into the strategic planning process.”                            Lil Cross, Common Wealth Credit Union, Alberta

These and other credit union professionals from across Canada are winding up their pilot of Strategic Management for Credit Union Professionals. CUSOURCE Knowledge Network thanks them for their participation and looks forward to their evaluation of the course.  The next cohort is scheduled for September 2007 and “seats” are limited.   The course remains a credit in the CUIC Management Studies Program (MSP) and is also suggested as part of the Management Development Series.

For more information, visit www.cusource.ca. Click on Course Catalogue/Cohorts/CU00-315-COHORT Strategic Management for Credit Union Professionals or contact your CUSOURCE Knowledge Network Regional office.