This study aimed to identify the core elements and components of cooperative education curricula for adults within a community-based local development framework. A qualitative systematic review was conducted on scholarly publications from 2015 to 2025 retrieved from reputable Persian and international databases. Following structured screening procedures, 30 eligible studies were selected and analyzed using thematic analysis and narrative synthesis, while methodological quality was appraised using the CASP tool. The analysis yielded a three-level framework comprising six overarching dimensions, eighteen core components, and 108 operational indicators, encompassing philosophical foundations and curriculum validation, cooperative knowledge content, community-centered learning approaches, participatory governance and infrastructure, capacity building as a central phenomenon, and sustainable development outcomes. The findings indicate that adult cooperative education becomes effective only when technical knowledge transfer is integrated with psychosocial empowerment, participatory learning processes, and supportive local governance structures.