Cooperative Leadership in the Digital Age: The Case of the Universidad FUNDEPOS de Costa Rica

The case of FUNDEPOS Alma Mater, Costa Rica’s only cooperative-owned university, reveals both the transformative potential and challenges of digital education. To this end, this article examines the institution’s shift to fully online delivery during COVID-19, which expanded enrolment from rural areas. Drawing on faculty interviews, the study shows that educators are reshaping digital classrooms through methods grounded in empathy, co-construction, and real-world relevance. Grounded in decolonial and cooperative education frameworks, the study finds that online programmes, when aligned with participatory pedagogy, can democratise access and cultivate collective leadership. However, challenges persist, including digital infrastructure gaps, uneven participation, and emotional fatigue. Hence, FUNDEPOS represents an evolving experiment in digital education justice. By anchoring its work in cooperative values and developing context-specific alternatives, the university dares to ask not just who accesses education, but what kind of future it can build.