An educational leader with more than 25 years of experience, Emmanuel Gonsalves has held strategic roles at several institutions of higher learning, including serving as vice president for finance and strategy at Florida's Bethune-Cookman University. Through these roles, Emmanuel Gonsalves has developed strong professional interest in public private partnerships (P3) in education. Since universities are facing increasing financial pressures, the P3 model has gained traction as institutions strive to meet their strategic goals.
A P3 is a project in which public and private sector entities cooperate to execute a project that serves defined public needs. Since the 1980s private sector firms have developed an increasing number of services and programs that specifically align with the aims of higher education institutions. Private entities may become involved in many aspects of campus operation and student life, such as managing enrollment, operating online courses, or administering dining services. In certain scenarios, P3 arrangements can allow institutions to reallocate their internal resources and outsource certain non-core tasks to a private firm with focused areas of expertise.
Hallmarks of successful P3 arrangements include open communication between both parties and clear delineation of responsibilities and expected outcomes. With a P3 model, public and private participants must strive to understand the goals of the other party. While each entity's goals may be different, there should be a defined framework for measuring progress and ensuring participants track to desired objectives.
