Community engagement and partnerships

Enable effective transformation through community engagement and a coalition of partners with complementary competencies and knowledge.

What is a Public-Private Educational Partnership (PPEP) and how will it impact learning outcomes?

Public-Private Educational Partnerships (PPEPs) are contractual relationships between governments and private sector entities. They are catalysts for systemic change. PPEPs mobilize individuals, organizations, and communities, tapping the power of education. They combine transformational leadership, shared goals, and community values to create educational access, equity, outcomes, quality, and ethical choices. Digital technologies are an integral strategy in this transformation, driven by a ‘community for innovation’ that harnesses the human imagination and creativity for changing lives, organizations, communities, and nations. PPEPs are also pillars of social, cultural, and economic empowerment in the developing world.

PPEPs have shown to be effective across the globe in impacting learning outcomes of increasing enrollments, improving educational outcomes, reducing educational inequality, and reducing costs.

How can leaders address varying definitions and understandings of innovation across PPEPs? 

There is a misconception that innovation is synonymous with technology. Innovation, in fact, exists along a continuum that includes much more than just hardware and software. Innovation is thinking and creativity. Innovation is new policies, processes, procedures, curriculum, pedagogical practices, and more. School transformation requires synergy among the stakeholders—educators, government and ministry leaders, students, faculty, private providers, social service organizations, religious leaders, parents, and more. Indeed, what we should be developing in PPEPs are ‘communities for innovation’ that collectively embrace innovation in all its guises and creative capacities. Digital technologies create a vast continuum of creative teaching and learning tools for the educative process. In PPEPs there is one common value to which all partners must commit: the power of education to transform lives, communities, institutions, and nations.

Local businesses and non-profit agencies can be a part of the vision to further student experience and bring the real world into the classroom.

Research local businesses and non-profit agencies that can be a part of this vision to further student experiences and bring the real world into the classroom.

Form a committee within your school of educators, parents, and students to work towards actively engaging with local companies and non-profits.

What are your system’s most important engagement values, and how will you make sure these values are reflected in the engagement process?

When meeting with community partners, engage in this activity:

Triangle

• First, have participants draw a triangle and next to it write down three important points from the presentation or reading they just saw or completed OR write down items that need more clarification. 

Square  

• Then, have participants draw a square and next to it write down anything that “squares” with their thinking or anything they agree with. 

Circle  

• Finally, have participants draw a circle and next to it write down anything that is still “circling” in their head or questions that they have.  

Use this exercise to help stimulate thinking, ask thorough questions, and help with final decision-making. When forming community partnerships, it's important to remember the key word: partnership. This is different than donations or school support. Partnerships mean both sides benefit. Clarifying partnership expectations is key to a successful endeavor. Consider businesses and organizations that can support internships, mentorship, projects, and connections that impact the community achieving authentic learning. Be open to all community resources, no matter how small, that could provide opportunities to prepare students for their futures.

Launching a successful Public-Private Educational Partnership (PPEP) requires leaders to establish a commitment to developing a long-term plan that actively works to engage the community. How well will you accurately anticipate future trends and their consequences, bring creative ideas to fruition, recognize strategic opportunities for change, and create competitive and breakthrough strategies? How does this align with your school vision?