Clusters and National Competitiveness Course

As part of the collaboration with ISC, the school offers Prof Porter’s signature Microeconomics of Competitiveness course in its graduate programmes as an elective module. Entitled Clusters and National Competitiveness, it features Harvard’s prominent case studies on selected industry clusters and development of nations.

This course explores the determinants of national and regional competitiveness from a bottom-up, microeconomic perspective. It probes the ultimate determinants of a nation’s or region’s productivity, rooted in the strategies and operating practices of locally-based firms, the vitality of clusters, and the quality of the business environment in which competition takes place. It examines both advanced and developing economies and addresses the competitiveness of nations and particular clusters. It also examines the role that economic coordination among neighboring countries plays in competitiveness. The course is concerned not only with government policy but also with the roles that firms, industry associations, universities, and other institutions play in competitiveness. The course explores not only theory and policy, but also the organizational structures, institutional structures, and change processes required for sustained improvements in competitiveness.

Executive Programmes

ACI conducts training programmes to equip analysts and policymakers with the concepts, tools and methodologies to study and improve the competitiveness of clusters, regions and countries. It provides a forum for the public and private sectors to interact and exchange views on competitiveness issues leading to the development of more effective policies and implementation. Apart from the following executive programmes, ACI also delivers customised programmes for government and private sector clients upon requests.

Developing Clusters and National Competitiveness
This is a 5-day programme targeted at senior private and public sector leaders, and aims to inform decision-makers about the importance of microeconomic policy and the role of location in economic performance. The programme explores the determinants of national and regional competitiveness building from the perspective of firms, clusters, sub-national units, nations, and groups of neighbouring countries. It covers not only theory and policy but also the organizational structures, institutional structures, and the change processes required for sustained improvements in competitiveness. This executive programme is taught using course materials and case studies drawn from Professor Michael Porter’s signature course on Competitiveness. Our approach employs seminars and cases, placing emphasis on interactive teaching methods. Participants are also able to network and interact in small group discussions with peers from diverse backgrounds contributing to the total learning experience.

Senior Management Programme
ACI faculty also teaches in the school’s Senior Management Programme which is jointly developed with the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University

For more information on our executive programmes, please click here.