Practices, Challenges and Prospects of Private-Public Universities Partnership Ethiopia

Abstract

This paper focuses on Practices, Challenges and Prospects of Private-Public Universities partnership in Ethiopia with particular reference to the selected three Public and six Private Universities. To this end, interviews were conducted with the deans and presidents of the selected private universities, the public relation offices and concerned bodies of the selected public universities, and ministry of education. Thus, the study revealed that the reluctance and passiveness of both public and private universities and the failure of ministry of education to act as a catalyst in between the actors resulted in poor and unsatisfactory nature of partnership for many and, the absence of it for some. Moreover, as quality of education is not only the effort and functions of a single agent, but needs co-functioning and proper conceptualization of system approach; the missing-link between the actors has made the actors to miss the potentials and opportunities of partnership. Hence, the paper recommends that the focus has to be given, and integrated approach has to be developed to build synergy in between the actors - so that they strive to their own common goals.