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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Local Economic Development by Erasmus University Rotterdam

4.8
stars
398 ratings

About the Course

Welcome to this MOOC on Local Economic Development (LED). Local economic development refers to the processes by which local governments, businesses, and civil society groups get together to raise income sustainably and improve their lives in a well-defined area. It’s about creating jobs, securing livelihoods, improving infrastructure and managing local resources. What do I learn? We will be dealing with questions such as the following. Why does economic development take place in some areas of the world and not in others? Why doesn’t it happen in your place? What prevents people from having the lives they want to live right there? Could your region make more of the opportunities of globalization and new technologies? Did the promises of decentralization in your country fail to deliver better public services and more responsive governments? If these are the questions you are asking yourself, this is the right course for you. It explores the where, who and how of economic development. Please have a look at our list of contents for the coming 8 weeks: 1. What is LED? What drives it? 2. How does globalization shape LED? 3. How does decentralisation affect LED? 4. How does competitiveness affect innovation? 5. What are entrepreneurship and its dimensions? 6. Why are value chains and clusters so important? 7. What are some LED strategies? 8. Your project How will I learn? In each week you will be able to access the content of the videos, suggested readings and additional videos for selective deepening. You will also find assignments that you have to complete if you want to earn a certificate for this MOOC. We will first introduce our “toolkit”, a series of theories and concepts that will help you read the situation in your locality. We will explore the main factors affecting local economic development, such as globalization, decentralisation, and competitiveness. We will discuss key components, like entrepreneurship and innovation and look into the organization of local economies into clusters, value chains and learning regions. We will conclude by deepening on some specific constructs that make local economies grow to benefit their communities. You will also contribute your ideas in the discussion forums, where you will learn from other participants around the world. What makes this course special? There is plenty of information in Internet on local economic development, which is mostly prepared by international donors or multilateral organisations. So what does this course do differently? First of all, the course is offered by academics that have significant published research on local economic development. This course gathers a wealth of academic knowledge that often fights the assumptions on what things are supposed to be like. Second, the instructors of this course have participated in dozens of capacity building projects in Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa. Putting learning at the centre, they worked with communities, local governments, international donors and business associations. They often found a significant distance between theory and practice in local economic development, and this has been the basis of learning. Third, the course is acutely aware that each region is different and does not attempt to offer a one-size-fits-all recipe. It singles out key factors that drive local economic development and enables participants to do their own learning process, defining local problems and appropriate solutions. The aim of the course is that participants come up with their own ideas on how to promote local economic development. How will I get a certificate? If you want a certificate for participating in this MOOC, you will need to complete a small assignment each week and participate in the discussion forums. In the end of the MOOC, you will put these contributions together in one final document, your Capstone Project. I hope you find this course exciting and that you get to share our passion for promoting local economic development. Your instructors Dr. Georgina M. Gómez, ISS Prof. Emeritus AHJ (Bert) Helmsing, ISS Dr. Jan Fransen, IHS...

Top reviews

JH

Jul 13, 2019

This course has very good ideas and cases studies to inspire me in my project of SMEs in Paraguay. Many thanks.Ching Yi , Huang PMP

RV

Apr 16, 2021

I'm interested in LED, and by study this course, I found a lot of knowledge that I need to focus on more!

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51 - 75 of 123 Reviews for Local Economic Development

By idp l

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Sep 2, 2023

A program lecturer with qualified lecturer and more information we get

By Abwaresen J

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Jul 28, 2023

LED has really been helpful. I have learnt new entrepreneurial skills.

By Suman C

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Jul 24, 2022

very nice and effective course. i need certificate for the completion.

By Pankaj. G

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Nov 1, 2019

it was easy and helpful, to complete the course with help of videos.

By William E

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Aug 30, 2022

helped we learn more about teamwork,personal skills and flexibility

By Thakur P P

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Apr 11, 2021

Knowledge, case stories, excercises. Wonderful design of the course.

By Mariama A

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Sep 3, 2021

I really enjoyed studying this course and im glade i did

By Andres C

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Aug 1, 2020

Excellent thematic and material for the student!

Good job!

By BENJAMIN L A

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Jul 24, 2024

Everyone has to learn about local economic development.

By Tolibboeva J H Q

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Jul 27, 2020

It was so interesting course! thank you very much!

By Annalisa N A A

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Jul 2, 2025

Excellent and very practical. I loved it so much

By Isaiah Q

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Jun 10, 2024

This coursera has been the program, I ever taken

By Martin H

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Feb 25, 2025

A very good course indeed and most interesting.

By Rakesh K C

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May 23, 2021

Just brilliant. Means Business . Keep it up

By Mezgebu K

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Nov 2, 2022

It is Wonderful Course and I gave 5 stars.

By john a

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Aug 27, 2020

It's highly impactful course for students.

By 20D1134 R R

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Dec 30, 2020

Leart a lot of things and was very useful

By Peter D

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Jan 5, 2019

great perspective gained from the class

By Daniel Q Q

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Jul 12, 2024

i enjoyed ,y learning this few weeks

By Ernest J

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Jan 17, 2024

best education provider Coursera

By FRANCETTE C

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Nov 10, 2024

A fantastic course. Thank you

By Derrick S G

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Aug 22, 2025

Great and loved the lectures

By Mamadiyev T T O

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Jul 31, 2020

Very best project .

By VANESSA H

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Jul 8, 2023

good and reliable

By Pule N

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Aug 15, 2022

Best course ever.