How can sustainability and cooperative values be brought to where they truly make a difference – everyday school life? Stephanie Düker has the answers. As team manager of the educational project “Student Cooperatives – Sustainable Business, Acting in Solidarity” at Genoverband e.V., she supports students in founding and running their own student company based on the cooperative legal model.

This creates learning environments where young people not only understand economic relationships but actively and responsibly help shape them – democratically, collaboratively, and in a hands-on way. Stephanie Düker’s economic expertise, her commitment to cooperative principles, and her many years of experience all flow directly into her project work.

Her professional journey began with an apprenticeship as a bank clerk at WGZ BANK AG, followed by a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on European Studies at the University of Münster, including a year abroad at the University of Twente. She then completed a Master’s degree in Economics, also in Münster. She continued her academic career as a research associate at the Institute of Cooperative Studies (IfG) before moving into cooperative consulting – first at Genossenschaftsverband – Verband der Regionen e.V. (now Genoverband e.V.).

In this interview, Stephanie Düker talks about her transition from research to practice, the unique characteristics of cooperative structures, and how economic thinking can open up new perspectives for young people and society.

Dear Ms. Düker, you lead the project “Student Cooperatives – Sustainable Business, Acting in Solidarity” at Genoverband e.V. How do you meaningfully combine entrepreneurial thinking, sustainability, and education – and what excites you most about working with young people?
We bring together entrepreneurial thinking, sustainability, and education by enabling students to found their own student cooperative – from the initial business idea, through developing a concrete business plan, to drafting their own statutes. All of this is supported by materials specifically tailored to the school project, while remaining as close as possible to the “real” process of founding a cooperative.
What excites me most is how creative and committed the young people are. Sustainability is not something we need to impose – quite the opposite! It is often exactly what motivates students to get involved, for example when they want to make their school kiosk more sustainable.

In your view, what are the biggest challenges for cooperatives in the coming years – and what role can education, regional networking, or sustainability play?
Key challenges certainly include demographic change and the resulting shortage of young talent, as well as digital transformation and rising expectations for sustainable business practices due to climate change. Education is a crucial key to the future. Our initiative offers the opportunity to inspire young people early on with cooperative values such as solidarity, democracy, and sustainability. It raises awareness, fosters entrepreneurial thinking, and strengthens the ability to actively shape society.
Regional networks between schools and cooperatives create synergies, strengthen the local economy, and promote the exchange of knowledge and resources. Student cooperatives can act as bridges – connecting generations, institutions, and ideas. And very concretely, regional networking often leads to internships and training contracts.

Before moving into cooperative consulting, you spent several years in research and teaching at the Institute of Cooperative Studies. What insights from that time shape your work today?
My academic work gave me a solid understanding of the strengths and challenges of cooperative organizations. I also learned how to communicate complex issues clearly and translate academic insights into practical applications. These experiences are helpful both in advising cooperative start-ups – for example initiatives to save local pubs or village shops – and in project work with schools. Ultimately, it’s always about making the added value of cooperatives tangible for individuals at the local level – regardless of age.

Looking back on your time as a student in Münster – what shaped you personally and professionally? And what advice would you give to today’s students interested in a career in consulting, education, or cooperative business?
What shaped me most during my time in Münster were the many great people I met – often outside the lecture hall, for example through university sports. Friendships were formed that have lasted to this day, sometimes across long distances.
So my advice is: make use of the wide range of opportunities that Münster and the university environment offer beyond lectures and seminars. Actively look for connections between theory and practice. And above all, find out what is truly meaningful to you personally. Then your job later on will not just be a job – but ideally something you genuinely enjoy.