At the higher Education Conference in Riyadh April 13/14/15 a high profile group of US and GCC educators took the stand and spoke on Building Education Sector Growth & Sustainability through Public/Private Partnerships & Collaborative Ventures. Using case studies, the panelists shared their experiences in the field over the past three decades focusing on the gains achieved to date and on potential areas for future exploration. The panelist discussed how Public/Private Partnerships could be used to bridge both the skills gap and the financial gap in the region’s education sector and how collaborative delivery models could be used to accelerate program development timelines within the region. They highlighted the programmatic benefits and regional gains that are possible within the higher education and vocational training sectors when programs are strategically structured for private investment and engagement. The shared risk of Public/Private Partnerships, when combined with quality programming design and measurable program outcomes, create excellent channels for the potential integration of continuous program assessment and improvement. Accelerated development timelines, shared risk, quality programming, measurable outcomes, and ongoing program assessment that result in continuous program improvement are a few of the features of a successful Public Private Partnership that can work together synergistically to enhance program sustainability.
Anjum Malik, Founder & Managing Partner, Alhambra US Chamber, Austin, Texas who moderated and also served as a content provider spoke eloquently on the PPP the Chamber developed because of President Obamas Partners for a new Beginning Initiative and the difference it is making in the lives of young ladies from the