Transformative Education for Pension Fund Trustees

Authors

  • Isla Carmichael Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
  • Shirley Thompson Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
  • Jack Quarter Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto

Abstract

Pension funds represent the primary investment pool for the Canadian economy with about $600 billion of assets, yet scant attention is paid to the education of trustees. This study is based on a survey of managers of the top 100 funds in Canada. It indicates that the average fund has one day of training per year for trustees and most of the courses deal with conventional matters such as fiduciary responsibility. Only 13% of the funds have training in social investment for trustees. This paper outlines the field of social investment in pension funds and discusses some current initiatives being undertaken by unions to become more involved in socially useful investment strategies through transformative education programs for worker trustees.

Résumé

Avec des avoirs d'environ 600 milliards de dollars, les caisses de retraite représentent la plus importante mise en commun de capitaux de l'économic canadienne. Malgré cela, on porte bien peu d'attention à la formation de leurs administrateurs. Cette étude a été réalisée à partir d'une enquête menée auprès de qestionnaires des 100 caisses les plus grandes du Canada. Elle montre que la caisse moyenne offre à ses administrateurs une journée de formation par année, dont les cours portent surtout sur des questions conventionnelles, telle la responsabilité fiduciaire. Seulement 13% des caisses offrent des cours de formation en placement éthique pour administrateurs. Cet article donne un aperçu de la question du placement éthique dans les caisses de retraite et discute de nouvelles initiatives mises de l'avant par les syndicats en matière de stratégies de placement responsable. Les syndicats veulent s'engager davantage par l'intermédiate de programmes d'éducation transformative destinés aux travailleurs-administrateurs.

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Published

2003-05-01

How to Cite

Carmichael, I., Thompson, S., & Quarter, J. (2003). Transformative Education for Pension Fund Trustees. Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education, 17(1), 46–65. Retrieved from https://cjsae.library.dal.ca/index.php/cjsae/article/view/1870

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 1 (2003)

Section

Articles

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