Clusters de alta tecnologia são vistos como importantes centros de inovação e produção em uma economia atual global e interconectada. Observa-se um maior interesse da comunidade acadêmica pela relação entre o desenvolvimento de clusters de alta tecnologia em economias emergentes e suas conexões globais através da ‘circulação de talentos entre os clusters’ (em inglês, IBC). IBC representa, tipicamente, a difusão e transferência de tecnologias, conhecimentos e práticas através de redes individuais entre clusters emergentes e clusters já estabelecidos, os quais estão globalmente interconectados através dos laços destas redes. O foco deste estudo está no papel controverso da IBC no estímulo ao crescimento e melhoria de clusters maiores/em crescimento versus clusters menores/nascentes. Este estudo tem como objetivo propor formas de governança da IBC para conduzir estes processos nos seus diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. O contexto empírico investigado está baseado em (a) dois casos consolidados da literatura: as conexões de Bangalore (IN) - Vale do Silício e Hsinchu (TW) - Vale do Silício; e, (b) dois casos originais: as conexões de Daedeok Innopolis (KR) – EUA e Vale dos Sinos (BR) – Coreia. O método de pesquisa utilizado é qualitativo com a aplicação de 26 entrevistas em profundidade como fonte principal de evidência. Com base nos casos estudados, é possível argumentar que os clusters maiores/em crescimento se beneficiam de uma IBC orgânica, estimulada pelas dinâmicas e forças do mercado, enquanto os clusters menores/nascentes dependem de um esforço coordenado devido à falta de atratividade inicial para empresas e indivíduos. Além disto, com vistas à eficácia da IBC no estimulo ao crescimento e melhoria de clusters, também se pode argumentar que a intervenção nas dinâmicas da IBC se reduz ao longo da evolução dos clusters, passando de um esforço coordenado nos estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento do cluster para um processo orgânico da IBC guiado pelo mercado em estágios mais avançados de desenvolvimento. Este estudo tem implicações importantes no entendimento da conectividade de clusters, do papel da governança para o crescimento e melhoria de clusters e das estratégias efetivas de catch-up para economias emergentes. / High-tech clusters are important hubs of innovation and production in an increasingly interconnected global economy. There has been an increasing interest from scholars in the embeddedness of local cluster development, in particular of high-tech industries in emergent economies, and global connectivity, in particular in the dynamics and role of inter-cluster brain circulation (IBC). IBC denotes knowledge, technology and practice diffusion and translation through individual networks between emergent and typically more established clusters that are globally interconnected through these network ties. Of particular interest to this study is the controversial role of IBC in stimulating the growth and upgrading of larger/growing versus smaller/nascent clusters. Using the lens of network governance, this study aims to propose forms of IBC governance for steering these processes. The empirical context of investigation is composed of (a) two prior studies of IBC in the cases of Bangalore (IN) - Silicon Valley and Hsinchu (TW) - Silicon Valley connections and (b) two original empirical cases examining the Sinos Valley (BR) - Korea connection and Daedeok Innopolis (KR) - US connection. A qualitative research method strategy is employed in these two original cases using 26 in-depth interviews across both cases as a source of evidence. Based on the studied cases, it is possible to argue that for larger-scale growing clusters, IBC-growth dynamics may unfold as an ‘organic process’ through self-reinforcing market forces, whereas small-scale embryonic clusters depend on a ‘coordinated effort’ of this process because they lack initial market attractiveness for both individuals and firms. Further, focusing on the effectiveness of IBC in steering the growth and upgrading of clusters, it can also be argued that IBC governance changes through a gradual decreasing in the intervention to stimulate IBC, from a ‘coordinated effort’ in the early stage to a spontaneous increase in the marketdriven process of IBC as an ‘organic process’ in the mature stage of cluster development. This study has important implications for understanding cluster connectivity, the role of governance in cluster growth and upgrading, and the effective catch-up strategies of emerging economies.

Clusters de alta tecnologia são vistos como importantes centros de inovação e produção em uma economia atual global e interconectada. Observa-se um maior interesse da comunidade acadêmica pela relação entre o desenvolvimento de clusters de alta tecnologia em economias emergentes e suas conexões globais através da ‘circulação de talentos entre os clusters’ (em inglês, IBC). IBC representa, tipicamente, a difusão e transferência de tecnologias, conhecimentos e práticas através de redes individuais entre clusters emergentes e clusters já estabelecidos, os quais estão globalmente interconectados através dos laços destas redes. O foco deste estudo está no papel controverso da IBC no estímulo ao crescimento e melhoria de clusters maiores/em crescimento versus clusters menores/nascentes. Este estudo tem como objetivo propor formas de governança da IBC para conduzir estes processos nos seus diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. O contexto empírico investigado está baseado em (a) dois casos consolidados da literatura: as conexões de Bangalore (IN) - Vale do Silício e Hsinchu (TW) - Vale do Silício; e, (b) dois casos originais: as conexões de Daedeok Innopolis (KR) – EUA e Vale dos Sinos (BR) – Coreia. O método de pesquisa utilizado é qualitativo com a aplicação de 26 entrevistas em profundidade como fonte principal de evidência. Com base nos casos estudados, é possível argumentar que os clusters maiores/em crescimento se beneficiam de uma IBC orgânica, estimulada pelas dinâmicas e forças do mercado, enquanto os clusters menores/nascentes dependem de um esforço coordenado devido à falta de atratividade inicial para empresas e indivíduos. Além disto, com vistas à eficácia da IBC no estimulo ao crescimento e melhoria de clusters, também se pode argumentar que a intervenção nas dinâmicas da IBC se reduz ao longo da evolução dos clusters, passando de um esforço coordenado nos estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento do cluster para um processo orgânico da IBC guiado pelo mercado em estágios mais avançados de desenvolvimento. Este estudo tem implicações importantes no entendimento da conectividade de clusters, do papel da governança para o crescimento e melhoria de clusters e das estratégias efetivas de catch-up para economias emergentes. / High-tech clusters are important hubs of innovation and production in an increasingly interconnected global economy. There has been an increasing interest from scholars in the embeddedness of local cluster development, in particular of high-tech industries in emergent economies, and global connectivity, in particular in the dynamics and role of inter-cluster brain circulation (IBC). IBC denotes knowledge, technology and practice diffusion and translation through individual networks between emergent and typically more established clusters that are globally interconnected through these network ties. Of particular interest to this study is the controversial role of IBC in stimulating the growth and upgrading of larger/growing versus smaller/nascent clusters. Using the lens of network governance, this study aims to propose forms of IBC governance for steering these processes. The empirical context of investigation is composed of (a) two prior studies of IBC in the cases of Bangalore (IN) - Silicon Valley and Hsinchu (TW) - Silicon Valley connections and (b) two original empirical cases examining the Sinos Valley (BR) - Korea connection and Daedeok Innopolis (KR) - US connection. A qualitative research method strategy is employed in these two original cases using 26 in-depth interviews across both cases as a source of evidence. Based on the studied cases, it is possible to argue that for larger-scale growing clusters, IBC-growth dynamics may unfold as an ‘organic process’ through self-reinforcing market forces, whereas small-scale embryonic clusters depend on a ‘coordinated effort’ of this process because they lack initial market attractiveness for both individuals and firms. Further, focusing on the effectiveness of IBC in steering the growth and upgrading of clusters, it can also be argued that IBC governance changes through a gradual decreasing in the intervention to stimulate IBC, from a ‘coordinated effort’ in the early stage to a spontaneous increase in the marketdriven process of IBC as an ‘organic process’ in the mature stage of cluster development. This study has important implications for understanding cluster connectivity, the role of governance in cluster growth and upgrading, and the effective catch-up strategies of emerging economies.

This dissertation examines the manifestations of the development discourse in the context of a bilateral South-South program of educational assistance through scholarships provided by the Cuban government at the secondary and postsecondary levels to students from Ghana. The research assesses the meanings attached to this program on the basis of the observations, understandings and perceptions of a group of graduates, and of former administrators who were involved in the design, implementation and/or administration of the program. The study gives legitimacy to the perspectives of a distinct group of knowers in a country of the postcolonial Global South who were socialized into an educational model that differs from the educational context of their home country. The research aims to illuminate the links between the program graduates’ experiences with the Cuban program and their subsequent contributions to Ghanaian society, with particular emphasis on the process of their reintegration. Research questions focus on the study participants’ perceptions regarding the relevance of the Cuban education in regard to academic and practical preparation; the combination of liberal and utilitarian principles of education; access opportunities; and ways in which the Ghanaian government may have encouraged the graduates’ return to Ghana in the context of the global brain drain phenomenon. Upon their return to Ghana, the graduates encountered challenges with respect to cultural disorientation due to the partial adoption of Cuban norms and values. They experienced difficulties integrating into professional life based on a perceived lack of understanding of certain Cuban credentials among Ghanaian employers, and encountered discrimination based on their education in an Eastern Bloc country. Once they had overcome the initial challenges, the graduates felt that the technical and professional aspects of their education, in particular the strong applied focus of their study programs, were well aligned with the Ghanaian context. There was evidence that early recruitment at the secondary level and a defined recruitment strategy resulted in program participation across the 10 Regions of Ghana. A distinct subgroup of graduates currently residing in the Bahamas provided insights into the reasons for their non-return to Ghana or their decision to leave their home country again.

Over the past 30 years South Africa has lost valuable human capital due to high volumes of emigration. South Africa has also seen numerous changes in its political, economic and social structure specifically in these decades, but little investigation has been done into the possibility of an association between political, economic and social, as well as personal factors, and the decision to leave South Africa. This study refers to Lee’s Migration Model (1966) that was used as a broad theory for migration. The model involves four sets of factors: factors associated with the area of origin, factors associated with the area of destination, intervening obstacles and personal factors. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory also explains the personal motivational theory for migration. Lee’s Model of Migration is used to investigate which political, economic, social and personal factors in the area of origin (South Africa) pushed South African emigrants to leave the country. It also investigates which political, economic, social and personal factors in the area of destination (Australia and New Zealand) pulled South African emigrants toward these countries. This study involved mixed-methods research (Creswell, 2009), thus the data collection methods were both qualitative and quantitative. The study followed a sequential exploratory strategy in two stages with the qualitative data collection occurring first, followed by a quantitative study – ‘QUALquan’ study. The data are mixed between analysis of the qualitative data and the quantitative data collection (Creswell, 2009:211). The qualitative data collection instruments used in the first stage of the study in 2009, were face-to-face interviews consisting of one focus group and six personal interviews in New Zealand, as well as twelve personal interviews in Australia. In the second stage of the study in 2015, namely the quantitative research, respondents were selected by contacting 17 closed (secured) Facebook groups that were formed for South Africans living either in Australia or New Zealand. There is no alternative sampling frame available since emigrants do not need to declare themselves as migrants on a work visa, furthermore, official documentation is not accessible to the public. A quantitative data collection instrument was administered with an online questionnaire. In the Australian Facebook groups, 137 respondents completed the questionnaire, and in New Zealand Facebook groups, 118 respondents, which adds up to a total of 255 respondents who completed the questionnaire. The results concluded that South Africa’s governance framework, its infrastructure and legislation acted as political push factors motivating South Africans to emigrate, while an uncertain economy contributed as an economic push factor. Socially, a perception of a limited future and a narcissistic society is what pushed South Africans to emigrate. Personal push factors that drove the emigration decision included, unmet physical, safety, belonging and esteem needs. The political factors that pulled South African emigrants to Australia and New Zealand involved effective government services and governmental aid. Economic pull factors included economic certainty and a lower cost of living. Social pull factors proved to be familiar circumstances and a better future. Personal pull factors were safety, belonging and self-actualisation needs. This mixed-method approach focussed on the gap to a followup study that was identified in previous individual qualitative and quantitative studies. These results may assist the South African government to take measures that ensures the retention of highly skilled citizens. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)