Development of cooperative education in Karelia in the 1920s

The article examines the establishment and activities of A. V. Lunacharsky Industrial and Economic College as a base for secondary cooperative education in Karelia in the 1920s. The relevance of the topic stems from the search for effective models of modernization of the secondary vocational education system in order to achieve technological leadership, strengthen economic sovereignty, and ensure sustainable socio-economic development of Russia. Based on the documents of the National Archives of the Republic of Karelia, the article describes for the first time the formation of a system for training mid-level personnel for cooperative and trade organizations of the republic during the NEP years. The purpose and objectives of the publication are to present the formation of secondary cooperative education in Karelia on the basis of A. V. Lunacharsky Industrial and Economic College in the 1920s; to consider the formation and functioning of the technical school; to identify its teaching staff, forms of educational activities for students, and the main disciplines related to the training of cooperative workers at Industrial and Economic Technical College. The study discovered information on the professional and educational level of teachers, as well as the number of students and graduates of the college. The article presents the development of an educational program and courses covering general subjects and specialized disciplines, particularly in the field of cooperation and trade, including the study of commodity science, general and cooperative accounting, types of cooperative organizations, the history and theory of cooperation, and cooperative and trade statistics. Various forms of education and training for future cooperative members (lectures, seminars, excursions, clubs, and practical training and internships) were identified. The article highlights the significant contribution of A.V. Lunacharsky Industrial and Economic College to the development of secondary vocational education in Karelia and its role in training personnel for the republic’s cooperative sector.