From the Ministry of Trade: Regulation on Cooperative Education
CHAPTER ONE – Purpose, Scope, Basis, and Definitions
Purpose
ARTICLE 1 – (1) The purpose of this Regulation is to regulate the duration, subjects, procedures, and principles of the cooperative education program to be provided by the Ministry of Trade or institutions authorized by the Ministry for principal or substitute members of the board of directors and the board of auditors in cooperatives and their higher organizations, determined based on criteria such as field of activity, number of members, and turnover.
Scope
ARTICLE 2 – (1) This Regulation covers the cooperative education process for the principal and substitute members of the boards of cooperatives and higher organizations determined according to criteria such as field of activity, number of members, and turnover, in accordance with:
- Articles 55 and 65, third paragraphs, of Cooperatives Law No. 1163 dated 24/4/1969,
- Article 20, first paragraph, of Agricultural Credit Cooperatives and Unions Law No. 1581 dated 18/4/1972,
- Article 8, second paragraph, of the Law on Agricultural Sales Cooperatives and Unions No. 4572 dated 1/6/2000.
Basis
ARTICLE 3 – (1) This Regulation has been prepared based on the third paragraphs of Articles 55 and 65 of Law No. 1163, Article 20, first paragraph of Law No. 1581, and Article 8, second paragraph of Law No. 4572.
Definitions
ARTICLE 4 – (1) In this Regulation:
a) Ministry: the Ministry of Trade,
b) Trainer: the person providing cooperative education,
c) Education Provider: universities, professional organizations with public institution status, and cooperative higher organizations authorized to provide training under a protocol with the Ministry,
d) Active cooperative: cooperatives and higher organizations not dissolved according to Article 81 of Law No. 1163,
e) General Directorate: General Directorate of Tradesmen, Craftsmen, and Cooperatives,
f) Provincial Directorate: for agricultural cooperatives, the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry; for housing cooperatives, the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change; for other cooperatives, the Provincial Directorate of Trade,
g) Relevant Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for agricultural cooperatives; Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change for housing cooperatives; Ministry of Trade for other cooperatives,
h) Law: Cooperatives Law No. 1163,
i) Cooperative: cooperatives and higher organizations operating under Law No. 1163, Law No. 1581, and Law No. 4572,
j) Cooperative Information System (KOOPBIS): the information system established under Article 5 of the Law,
k) Cooperative education: the education required for principal or substitute members of boards of cooperatives and higher organizations as stipulated in this Regulation,
l) Protocol: the written document signed between the Education Provider and the Ministry to authorize training,
m) Member: the principal and substitute members of the boards of cooperatives and higher organizations under the relevant laws.
CHAPTER TWO – Cooperative Education and Conditions
Cooperatives subject to education requirement
ARTICLE 5 – (1) Members of active cooperatives meeting any of the following criteria are subject to the education requirement:
a) Tradesmen and craftsmen credit and guarantee, agricultural sales, agricultural credit, and sugar beet growers’ cooperatives,
b) Cooperatives in construction, tourism development, and real estate management sectors with building permits and 50 or more members,
c) Cooperatives in transportation with 50 or more members,
d) Cooperatives with net sales revenue of 20 million Turkish lira or more, regardless of activity,
e) Cooperatives with 1,000 or more members, regardless of activity.
(2) For criteria in subparagraphs (b), (c), (d), and (e), the date of the general assembly at which selection occurs is taken as the reference.
Those required to take cooperative education
ARTICLE 6 – (1) Members of cooperatives listed in Article 5 must complete cooperative education within 9 months following their election.
(2) Members who have received cooperative education under this Regulation are not required to retake the education if they assume roles in higher organizations or cooperatives with a different purpose.
(3) Persons specified in Article 16(1)(c) and (ç) are exempt from cooperative education.
Applications for cooperative education
ARTICLE 7 – (1) Individuals required to take cooperative education apply to the Education Provider with the required information and documents according to the type of education provided.
(2) The fee for cooperative education is paid by the participants and cannot be claimed back from the cooperative.
Duration and form of cooperative education
ARTICLE 8 – (1) The Ministry determines the duration of cooperative education. The program consists of at least 40 class hours, including 30 hours of core subjects and 10 hours of supportive subjects. Each class hour is 50 minutes. Participants must complete at least 4/5 of the total duration.
(2) Cooperative education may be provided in-person or via distance learning.
Principles of distance education
ARTICLE 9 – (1) Systems used in distance education must:
a) Be compatible with multiple platforms, reusable with different sets, manageable and monitorable, easily accessible, robust, and responsive to user demand,
b) Support interactive and synchronous participation,
c) Record, track, and report participants’ login times, duration of access, and completion status.
Subjects of cooperative education
ARTICLE 10 – (1) Subjects are determined by the Ministry in consultation with relevant ministries.
(2) The program includes minimum core and supportive subjects listed in Annex-1.
(3) Additional supportive subjects may be determined by protocol based on the cooperative’s field of activity.
CHAPTER THREE – Certification Process
Participation certificate
ARTICLE 11 – (1) Participants who complete the education receive a cooperative education participation certificate issued by the Education Provider.
(2) The certificate includes the participant’s full name, ID number, issue date, validity period, certificate number, and other relevant information.
Cancellation of certificate
ARTICLE 12 – (1) Certificates are immediately canceled by the Ministry if false information is provided, a fake certificate is used, or eligibility conditions are violated, and the relevant Ministry is notified.
(2) The cancellation is communicated in writing to the applicant with justification by the issuing authority.
Validity period and renewal
ARTICLE 13 – (1) The validity of the cooperative education participation certificate is 8 years.
(2) After this period, members wishing to serve must take renewal training of at least 10 hours within 9 months in subjects determined by the Ministry. The renewed certificate is valid for another 8 years.
CHAPTER FOUR – Education Provider and Protocol
Education Provider and application process
ARTICLE 14 – (1) Cooperative education is provided by the Ministry or an Education Provider authorized by the Ministry.
(2) Institutions not authorized by the Ministry may not provide cooperative education.
(3) Education Providers apply in writing, providing detailed information on program, duration, trainers’ qualifications, physical or digital training environments, internet infrastructure, and fees.
(4) Approved applications are authorized for up to 4 years under a signed protocol.
(5) The fee schedule is submitted annually to the Ministry. The Ministry may request revision if fees are excessively high or low.
(6) Applications are evaluated within one month and results communicated in writing.
(7) Fees collected by the Ministry are recorded as budget revenue.
Responsibilities of the Education Provider
ARTICLE 15 – (1) The Education Provider is responsible for:
a) Setting the schedule, program, and quotas,
b) Providing suitable places and equipment,
c) Submitting training notes at least 15 days prior,
d) Ensuring trainers have sufficient knowledge, teaching ability, and communication skills,
e) Reporting annually on training activities.
Qualifications of trainers
ARTICLE 16 – (1) Trainers must meet at least one of the following:
a) PhD in Law, Political, Economic, or Administrative Sciences,
b) Master’s or PhD in cooperative studies,
c) At least 5 years in Ministry inspector or managerial positions,
d) At least 8 years in higher cooperative organizations in audit or management positions.
Ministry responsibilities
ARTICLE 17 – (1) The Ministry announces training activities on its website and supports coordination with other institutions.
(2) Records of training completion are kept in KOOPBIS.
Responsibilities of the protocol parties
ARTICLE 18 – (1) The Ministry and Education Provider act within their authority and responsibility.
(2) Education Provider enters data into KOOPBIS and reports previous year’s data by January end.
CHAPTER FIVE – Miscellaneous and Final Provisions
Monitoring of cooperative education
ARTICLE 19 – (1) Provincial directorates monitor whether members complete training and notify those who do not in writing.
Status of existing members
TEMPORARY ARTICLE 1 – (1) Members already serving at the time of publication are exempt until the first election. The 9-month period starts for members elected after 31/12/2022.
Exemption
TEMPORARY ARTICLE 2 – (1) Members who completed the Ministry’s Cooperative E-Certificate Program (KOOP-ES) before the publication date are exempt for 8 years. After this period, renewal training is mandatory.
Entry into force
ARTICLE 20 – (1) This Regulation enters into force on the date of publication.
Execution
ARTICLE 21 – (1) The provisions of this Regulation are executed by the Minister of Trade.