Just as the College was expanding, the co-operative movement found itself on the brow of a precipitous decline. Many solutions were developed and discussed, notably by the 1958 Independent Commission, although actual change was almost impossible to co-ordinate in a voluntarist and democratic movement. Yet, the College managed to retain a virtually full cohort into the 1970s forging a unique blend of technical education, liberal studies and education for social change. This took place within an international atmosphere marked by the Cold War and the independence of many former colonies. While co-operative education was on the defensive, the role of the College became more important within a movement shedding its array of educational activities. New training initiatives were developed. The College was not only the primary location for serious, intensive co-operative education and research, but also played a symbolic role as a shrine which represented what the movement stood for.