Welcome

In a world of interdependence and integration of the different fields of knowledge and human activity (“globalisation”), local development represents an important dimension for understanding and translating knowledge into action and performance. Studying local development also requires to assume a particular vision of the globalization process, which differs both from the standard idea of convergence of institutions and practices, and the alternative vision of distinct “national capitalisms”. In fact, the world and its dynamics are moulded by the strong interdependence and the dialogue between local characteristics and identity dimensions, as much as they are by international and national forces.

In this perspective, local development represents an environment where socio-economic, cognitive and informative interactions may be particularly fluid and dynamic, yet cohesive. These interactions foster the diffusion of information and knowledge and support the formation of different kinds of capital and trust, thus strengthening agglomeration economies and creating opportunities in the global context. In virtue of these features, the local level is of growing importance for innovation, for economic, social and technological policies and for legislative and administrative solutions. Local specificity and assets are also fundamental for the economic and social adaptation to the asymmetrical shocks caused by internationally co-ordinated macro-policies.

Drawing on such a vision, the School on Local Development has taken the mission to show how the local dimension represents a lever for overcoming limits of sub-national constituencies and the globalisation process alike and for taking opportunities, with crucial policy implications in both respects. The School also intends to prove that local development offers feasible and effective solutions to the governance of globalisation in a progressive way, yet respectful of and profitable for local idiosyncrasies.

The School offers, within this perspective, post-graduate programmes sharing a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, all based on the cooperative initiative of various European universities and with the collaboration of non-EU universities and non-academic research and policy centres. The offer includes a Ph.D. programme, an Erasmus Mundus Masters programme and a Joint African Masters programme.

In the name of all the cooperating institutions and the teaching and administrative staff of the School, I am glad to invite you to visit our website and contact us in order to have further information on the programme of your interest and, if you decide to apply to any of the School activities, I welcome you as a participant and I look forward for a fruitful cooperation.

Prof. Bruno Dallago