The United Nations and Its Partnerships with Higher Education Revisited

Prospects of Mobilising Resources through Private-Public Partnerships (PPPs) in Private Universities in Uganda

“…However, Mgaiwa and Poncian (2016) reveal that, despite expanding access to higher education, PPPs did not necessarily lead to an improvement in education quality. In contrast, other authors, such as Boye and Mannan (2014) and Cheng (2009), maintain that PPPs contribute to the enhancement of education quality. They argue that PPPs can improve access, align higher education programmes with the country's evolving needs, bolster the role of the private sector in social development, elevate quality to enhance competitiveness, optimise management and administration effectiveness, and cultivate research capacities to drive innovation.…”

“…Mgaiwa and Poncian (2016) contend that PPPs, particularly in the field of education, present a complex concept to define due to the evolving boundaries between public and private sectors. In the realm of higher education, Cheng (2009) emphasises that the distinction between purely public and purely private entities has blurred significantly, as even public institutions increasingly engage in private or market-oriented activities.…”

“…Public-private partnerships have emerged as a pivotal component of education reform efforts in numerous countries, which recognise the efficacy of collaborative endeavours between the public and the private sectors. Such partnerships thrive on harnessing the distinctive expertise of each partner to best address clearly defined public needs, facilitating the optimal allocation of resources, risks and rewards, as they operate as equal development stakeholders (Cheng, 2009). Consequently, many countries, both developed and developing, have embraced and devised various models of PPPs within their private higher education systems.…”

“…For instance, Cheng (2009) sheds light on a model implemented in Indonesia to tackle teacher quality challenges prevalent in private institutions, where many educators lack adequate qualifications. The government incentivised the appointment of teachers holding higher degrees by providing subsidies to private institutions for each teacher with an advanced degree, certified as a professional academic.…”

“…Therefore, private universities must navigate their roles as private partners effectively. Cheng (2009) identifies five critical success factors or necessary conditions for the successful implementation of PPPs in private higher education:…”