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Rural
Knowledge Cluster Model
The rural knowledge cluster model, adopted
from the United States, is a variation of industry clusters
developed in the 1990s as an economic development strategy
for rural regions. American community college systems have
examined how community colleges can support emerging state
cluster-based economic development strategies. Within a rural
context, community colleges and universities in the U.S. have
provided technology and specialized workforce training to
support rural knowledge clusters which have become models
of high performance rural economies.
Rural knowledge clusters foster the creation
and renewal of the local knowledge base using a regional competitive
advantage to assist local business in developing a rich base
of skilled workers and a local entrepreneurial culture.
The Association of Canadian Community
Colleges (ACCC) and three member colleges has developed, adapted
and implemented a rural knowledge cluster model within each
of the region serviced by the colleges. The implementation
of the rural knowledge cluster model will serve to determine
how Colleges can be catalysts for the development of community
capacity building through the transfer of knowledge utilizing
a rural cluster model for three different rural communities
that have specific economic comparative advantage:
The rural knowledge cluster model is
viewed as a way to contribute to community capacity building
by enabling colleges to enter into collaborative partnerships
and work in a concerted way with community leaders and employers
to meet specific community socio-economic development needs.
Although the sectors being addressed by the three project
sites are different, there is a common need in all three cases
to move away from the communities’ dependence on primary
natural resourced-based economies which have become increasingly
unstable and resulting in substantial job losses for the rural
population.
It is expected that the rural knowledge
cluster model will be using a participatory approach:
- Examine how community colleges influence
development of industry clusters and as a result the region’s
economy;
- Foster the creation, renewal and
diversification of the local knowledge base within these
three regions of Canada; and
- Enable participating institutions
to create competitive advantage for local businesses to
contribute to economic diversification goals by developing
rich base skilled workers, an enhanced local entrepreneurial
culture, and increased research and commercialization capacity.
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