Raiffeisen Ambassador Advanced

Deepening Cooperative Knowledge.

Strengthening Cooperative Leadership.

The Raiffeisen Ambassador Advanced is the International Raiffeisen Union’s new advanced training programme for experienced cooperative professionals, managers and leaders who wish to deepen their understanding of the cooperative business model.

Building on the successful Raiffeisen Ambassador programme, this new course goes beyond the fundamentals. It explores current challenges and strategic questions that cooperatives face around the world and provides participants with practical insights, international perspectives and the latest academic findings.

Developed in close cooperation with Prof. Dr. Hans Groeneveld, one of the world’s leading experts on cooperative governance and cooperative banking, the programme combines scientific research with practical experience from cooperatives across different sectors and regions.

Format: Self-paced online training
Modules: 4
Live Sessions: 2
Language: English
Certificate: IRU Certificate upon successful completion
Target Group: Experienced cooperative professionals worldwide

Programme Structure

The training consists of four comprehensive self-learning modules:

Module I – Cooperative Identity

Explore what makes cooperatives truly distinctive. Participants analyse the multiple dimensions of cooperative identity, the Raiffeisen principles, governance, member value, strategy and the enabling environment that allows cooperatives to thrive.

Module II – Governance in Cooperatives

Examine the unique governance characteristics of cooperatives. The module discusses democratic member control, governance structures, board responsibilities, decision-making processes and the balance between professional management and member representation.

Module III – All About Members

Members are at the heart of every cooperative. This module explores member participation, engagement and commitment, different forms of member involvement, strategies to strengthen member relationships and approaches to creating long-term member value.

Module IV – The Life Cycle of Cooperatives

Understand how cooperatives evolve over time. Participants learn about the different development stages of cooperatives, changing governance needs, member heterogeneity, organisational growth and strategies for ensuring long-term sustainability and relevance.

Learning Experience

The Raiffeisen Ambassador Advanced offers:

Four in-depth self-learning modules
International perspectives and practical examples
Research-based insights translated into practical language
Flexible online learning at your own pace
Certificate of completion

The programme is designed for participants who already have a sound understanding of cooperatives and would like to strengthen their expertise on governance, member engagement, cooperative identity and long-term development.

Registrations are now open!

We are pleased to announce that registrations for the first edition of the Raiffeisen Ambassador Advanced are now open.

📄 Programme Flyer

Please find all information in the RA Advanced Infoflyer

📝 Registration

First Name*

Last Name*

Nick Name*

Email*

Organisation

Where are you from?*

Please provide your age*

What is your current job position?*

For how many years have you been involved in the cooperative sector?*

Terms & Condition for participation

Terms & Conditions - Raiffeisen Ambassador by IRU - International Raiffeisen Union

The following constitute the terms and conditions to which applicants agree when registering for the Raiffeisen Ambassador training of IRU - International Raiffeisen Union (“Terms & Conditions”). If you are agreeing to these Terms & Conditions not as an individual but on behalf of your company or other legal entity then, “Customer” or “you” or “your” shall refer to such entity and its affiliates, and you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity and its affiliates to these Terms & Conditions and you are binding your company to these Terms & Conditions. If you do not have such authority, or if you do not agree with these Terms & Conditions, you must not accept these Terms & Conditions but may not be eligible to register for the Raiffeisen Ambassador training. IRU reserves the right to review and update these Terms & conditions periodically at its sole discretion.

1. Supply of the Training
1.1 IRU shall use reasonable endeavours to supply the Training to the Customer in accordance with these Terms and Conditions in all material respects but reserves the right to change the course content of any Training Course at any time and without notice.
1.2 IRU shall use reasonable endeavours to meet any specified training dates, but any such dates shall be anticipated dates only and may be subject to alteration.
1.3 IRU reserves the right to amend the Agreement if necessary to comply with any applicable law or regulatory requirement, or if the amendment will not materially affect the nature or quality of the Training, and IRU shall notify the Customer in any such event.
1.4 Notwithstanding the above sub-clauses, IRU reserves the right to cancel Training at any time, without incurring additional liability to the Customer or any Delegates. In such circumstances, IRU will offer (at its sole discretion) alternative dates, a full refund, or a credit note.

2. Booking
The training course can be booked via the booking form available on the IRU website. When you submit a booking for an online course, your submission represents an offer to IRU to book you onto the course you selected. On submission of the face-to-face training course or e-learning course form you will receive an automated summary email of your selection. IRU will accept your offer by entering your booking onto the IRU system and sending you an email confirming that you have been booked together with information on starting your learning 

3. Payment
The Raiffeisen Ambassador Training is free of any costs! 
No costs will be covered for any additional material that the course participant acquires or for travel to the IRU in the event of an invitation.

4. Obligations
The registered participant may not allow anyone else to access the e-training courses via your log-in details. 
The participant further confirms to fully and actively participate at the whole Raiffeisen Ambassador training including all six virtual self-learning units, all six live teaching sessions and all related homework and activities. IRU reserves the right to remove any delegate from a training course whose behaviour is deemed inappropriate by IRU or its trainers. 

5. Language
The training is currently only offered in English. A good level (B2 level according to European standards) of English language skills is a prerequisite for participating in the training. By confirming the terms and conditions, the participant confirms that they have the necessary language skills.

6. Cancellation
The Customer may cancel the training on 30 calendar days’ notice to IRU. Cancellations must be provided in writing to the IRU Secretariat General via info@iru.de. 

7. Ownership and Intellectual Property Rights
All Training Material is owned by IRU. All intellectual property rights in all Training Material available, including the design, graphics and text of all printed materials and the audio of all webinars and podcasts, are owned by IRU. When you are given access to the Training Material, you are granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to use the Training Material. No Training Material may be copied, reproduced, uploaded, posted, displayed or linked to in any way,in whole or in part, without IRU's prior permission. Any such use is strictly prohibited and will constitute an infringement of IRU's intellectual property rights.
To provide a continuous check on the consistency and quality of training delivery, all participants will receive a follow-up email at the end of each class asking to submit feedback in the form of a satisfaction survey. This feedback will be reviewed in detail and will be used to make continuous improvements to class content and delivery.

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY 
IRU does not accept responsibility for anyone acting as a result of information in, or views expressed on, its training courses including course materials. Opinions expressed are those of individual trainers and not necessarily those of IRU. Participants should take professional advice when dealing with specific situations.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IRU SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OF USE, LOST OR INACCURATE DATA, FAILURE OF SECURITY MECHANISMS, INTERRUPTION OF BUSINESS, COSTS OF DELAY OR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, RELIANCE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS), REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE) STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES IN ADVANCE. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IRU'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO THE OTHER SHALL EXCEED THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID BY YOU TO IRU FOR THE TRAINING GIVING RAISE TO A CLAIM.

9. WARRANTY AND DISCLAIMER 
IRU ensures that all our training services are delivered diligently and in a good, workmanlike, timely and professional manner. The training services will be performed as described in the individual class agendas. IRU shall provide such trainers to present the training course as it, in its sole discretion, deems fit and IRU shall be entitled at any time to substitute any trainer with any other person who, in IRU's sole discretion, it deems suitably qualified to present the relevant course.
IRU does not warrant that the provision of any content online will always be available or be uninterrupted, timely or error free, that defects will be corrected or that such content is secure or free from bugs, viruses, errors and omissions.

10. INDEMNIFICATION 
Both Parties agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the other Party and its directors, officers and employees from and against any demands, damages or liabilities including reasonable attorney's fees) arising from a third party claim that the indemnifying Party caused bodily injury (including death) or damaged real or tangible personal property.

11. CONFIDENTIALITY 
Except as otherwise set forth in these Terms & Conditions, each party may disclose to the other party certain confidential information under these Terms & Conditions. Each party agrees that all code, inventions, know-how, business, technical and financial information or any information specifically designated as confidential or that could be understood to be confidential or proprietary by a reasonable person disclosed to such party (“Receiving Party”) by the disclosing party (“Disclosing Party”) constitute the confidential property of the Disclosing Party (“Confidential Information”) Any IRU technology, any commercial terms (including pricing) of these Terms &Conditions and any performance information relating to the products shall be deemed Confidential Information of IRU without any marking or further designation. Except as expressly authorized herein, the Receiving Party will use (and will ensure that its employees, Affiliates, agents, contractors and any approved third parties use) reasonable efforts (which shall be no less than the efforts used to protect its own confidential information of a similar nature) to prevent the disclosure of any Disclosing Party's Confidential Information for any purpose other than providing the training contemplated by these Terms & Condiitons unless authorized by the Disclosing Party. The Receiving Party's nondisclosure obligation shall not apply to information which the Receiving Party can document: (i) was rightfully in its possession or known to it prior to receipt of the Confidential Information; (ii) is or has become public knowledge through no fault of the Receiving Party; (iii) is rightfully obtained by the Receiving Party from a third party without breach of any confidentiality obligation; or (iv) is independently developed by employees of the Receiving Party who had no access to such information. The Receiving Party may also disclose Confidential Information if so required pursuant to a regulation, law or court order (but only to the minimum extent required to comply with such regulation or order and with advance notice to the Disclosing Party). 

11 Contact 
Please contact IRU's Secretariat General for any other training questions or requests by emailing: info@iru.de.

12 Privacy Policy
All information provided by you under these Terms & Conditions will be treated in accordance with IRU's Privacy Policies.

13 Force Majeure
 Neither party shall be liable to the other for any delay or failure to perform any obligation under these Terms & Conditions (except for a failure to pay fees) if the delay or failure is due to unforeseen events which are beyond the reasonable control of such party, such as a strike, blockade, war, act of terrorism, riot, natural disaster, failure or diminishment of power or telecommunications or data networks or services, or refusal of a license by a government agency each a Force Majeure Event

14. Customer Data
All Customer Data will be treated in accordance with IRU's Privacy Policies.

I hereby confirm my participation and agree to the Terms & Conditions as provided.

We look forward to welcoming participants from cooperative organisations around the world and continuing to strengthen the international Raiffeisen network through shared learning and exchange.