Implementation features of public-private partnership projects in the educational sphere

A reform of the educational system is dictated by the time, economic globalization and implementation of information technologies. So it should be realized through the partnership of the government and business.

In the Russian Federation there is a Program of economic development for the period up to 2020 which defines public-private partnership as the main direction of economic development in general, and education at all levels in particular. Therefore, development of methods of public-private partnership implementation in the educational sphere is an important factor for achieving economic development goals. Nowadays, the government pursue a policy to increase interest of educational institutions in quality performance of their functions. Moreover, the policy is aimed at creating favorable conditions for their independent work.

Public-private partnership in the educational sphere can be considered as a modernization system of education. The Federal Law "About education" (№273-FL from 29.12.2012) determines establishment of legal conditions for updating and development of the educational system in accordance with the modern needs of a person, society, state and the innovative economy. Letter № 03-66 of the Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation (February 4, 2011) “About mechanism usage of public-private partnership in the education field” includes the key activities for the development of public-private partnership in Russia, which are used today.

There are different mechanisms of publicprivate partnership. They depends on property factors, possible risks and distribution of responsibility. The most famous today are 3 mechanisms: contract form, institutional form and form of social interaction. The contract form includes the following activities:

– conducting research and experiments in cooperation with universities, creating a research center;

– infrastructure support and reconstruction;

– joint financial support of universities by the government and representatives of the private sector;

– support of university teachers and students by private business representatives (grants, scholarships, etc.);

– loans for education, loans on preferential terms;

– seminars and conferences;

– organizing an internship for students in a partner company.

The form of social interaction is a formation of trustee board for universities, where representatives of the private sector participate. The institutional form includes establishment of charitable foundations by representatives of private business; opening of business schools by private sector entities as founders; and establishment of corporate universities.

The most popular type of public-private partnership in Russia is a student's internship in a partner company, as well as grant and scholarship programs. Today, students of different universities have an opportunity to get a personal (nominal) scholarships. For example, in Moscow economic universities there are a scholarship program of Potanin charity Fund, scholarship of Rosneft and Gazprombank.

The state University "High school of Economics" and the Ministry of education and science of the Russian Federation prepared a report "Russian education 2020". It emphasizes that the module-competence approach will take the most important place in the educational system in the nearest future. It means that basic professional education will be supplemented by short modular retraining courses for flexible employee adaptation to the needs of the labor market. It is the most convenient to finance such retraining by one-time targeted payments (grants, subsidies, loans). It is also expected that private training centers (corporate universities, courses, etc.) will become a full part of the professional education system.

There are a lot of advantages of publicprivate partnership. Firstly, it is an opportunity of acceleration of social and economic development. Thanks to it, it is possible to realize perspective projects right now through the attracting private capital as a scheme of financial cooperation. The impact on local or regional budgets is reduced through better management.

The second dignity of public-private partnership is expenses reduction of the state budget. It gives an opportunity to attract capital of individuals to educational institution. Thus, public investments are used rationally.

Thirdly, public-private partnership increase the quality of services. There are created innovative technologies, new management methods and standards. All projects are carefully selected before implementation. The needs of population and the experience of involvement of private partner management are taken into account. So, only the best projects are chosen. Also it can help to solve regional problems and realize new programs of municipalities development.

Furthermore, public-private partnership stimulates a synergistic effect which helps to minimize all risks. Both sides can reallocate responsibility and have an opportunity to manage risks.

And one more advantage of public-private partnership is decrease of corruption and illegal actions at all stages of the project. There are estimates and schedules where clearly distributed obligations of the parties.

The using of public-private partnership mechanisms in education allows to ensure:

– expansion of the educational services market ;

– testing of new organizational and legal forms of alliance with business for educational structures;

– development of multi-channel financing instruments;

– strengthening of cooperation between employers and universities.

Today business actively contributes to the development of social investment in education. Nowadays, the main content of companies’ social responsibility is their interaction with educational institutions, structural departments, educational and research teams, expanding the presence of companies in the educational process and governing authority. Earlier the private sector was engaged only in charity, sponsorship or simply donations. But now it is focused on active participation in life of an educational institution, its development and material base improvement. In the conclusion, the mechanisms of public-private may become one of the main directions of financing the higher education institutions’ development.