IGIP Co-Plenary - Public-Private Partnership in Professional Education: Experience of the Research University

Abstract Public-Private Partnership in Professional Education: Experience of the Research University V.G. Ivanov, S.V. Barabanova, M.F. Galikhanov, A.A. GuzhovaIn the context of modernization and formation of innovation-driven economy of Russia manysocial and economic problems came to light especially on labor market. Nonconformance oflabor force and professional educational level and quality to up-to-date business requirementshas been revealed. There is a long-felt need of complex modernization of ProfessionalEducation System.Concept of Long-term Socio – Economic Development of the Russian Federation for thePeriod up to year 2020 determines important goals of Educational System developmentincluding establishing of world-class Research and Education Centers that integrate advancedresearches and educational programs and meet the staff and research challenges of nationalinnovation projects. Other important goals are establishing of national qualification structureadjusted for potential requirements of innovation-driven advanced economic growth andoccupational mobility, reforming of national educational standards and modernization of alleducational programs taking into account qualification requirements.Successful achievement of the goals is possible provided that the government and businessjoin forces in Public-Private Partnership (PPP).In Guidelines for Successful Public-Private Partnerships and in Green Paper on Public-PrivatePartnerships and Community Law on Public Contracts and Concessions the term PPP refersto forms of cooperation between public authorities and the world of business which aim toensure the funding, construction, renovation, management or maintenance of an infrastructureor the provision of a service. Typical features of PPPs are the relatively long duration of therelationship, complete or partial funding from the private sector, the defining role of privatepartner and the distribution of risks between the public partner and the private partner. PPP ineducation occurs as mutually beneficial cooperation of public authorities, educationalinstitutions and business entities for implementation of state educational, social and economicpolicies based on Legislative Acts and Special Agreements in government funded sectors.PPP projects are necessary for creation and development of the universities connectingeducational and research institutions and manufacturing companies. Such structure of theuniversity allows to increase efficiency and quality of the educational process, expand itsapplied-orientation, make the most use of brainpower, material, information and humanresources of education, science and business for training of the specialists, carrying outresearch and innovation project designing.Activities of the National Research Universities which include Kazan National ResearchTechnological University (KNRTU) are oriented on innovative development and set up ofnew PPP mechanisms. Additional professional education system of the University is openedfor experiments and integration processes, testing relevant interaction forms of all interestedparties involved in training and advancing professional personnel for up-to-date labor market.