Public-Private Partnership in Ethiopian Higher Education: Situational Analysis

Abstract

Public-Private partnerships (PPPs) in education are presented as capable of resolving several issues of education provision, financing, management, access and quality. This paper aimed at analyzing the current situation of PPPs in some higher education institutions in Ethiopia. Open-ended questionnaire was used to gather data that was subsequently critically reviewed and analyzed. The findings indicated that the situation of PPPs in Ethiopian higher education system seems to be at its infancy stage where the picture appears to be very blurred as the case in the sample institutions revealed. The author concluded that currently PPP is not well established in the higher education sector. This is because the institutions under consideration seem to lack a significant, institution-wide, long-term, multi-dimensional and sustainable partnership with their counterparts, in private or in public higher education institutions. Currently, what exists is just a limited and insignificant amount of partnership that can only be considered to be at the inception stage. This single use of partnership does not count to the very meaning of PPP, which is normally characterized by continuity and sustainability. Collaboration at the local level, government incentives, affiliation with public institutions, networking, long-term collaborative schemes are among the ways that can help to combine the best capabilities of the public and private sectors for mutual benefit. When it is based on good practices, PPP offers a win-win benefit to both the public and private sectors in the delivery of infrastructure, goods and services. Thus, institutional leaders need to explore partnership as a viable option to support, sustain and promote their vision, mission and goals.