We’re very happy to be working in Azerbaijan again, providing support to the government as it seeks to identify opportunities for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the education sector.
Our responsibilities include identifying potential pilot projects and carrying out initial viability assessments. The current focus is on the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
We are working in Uzbekistan again, this time working as part of a team developing a support package that will significantly strengthen STEM education in the country. The package will cover curriculum development, teacher training, infrastructure improvements and a network of STEM specialist schools in every district.
Our role is to explore the potential for strategic partnerships and PPPs in the STEM education sector, and we have developed several concepts including bilateral partnership arrangements and a multilateral PPP to develop a STEM visitor centre and educational hub.
On 6 September, the Government of Uruguay signed the country’s first Education PPP contract which will create 59 new kindergartens and support centres for infants and families throughout the country.
Our team at Caledonian Economics helped develop the business case and technical specifications for this wonderful project.
The ‘One Year Review’ of e-sgoil, written by our Education Specialist Bruce Robertson and Director Martin Finnigan, has been published by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, (Western Isles Council). Our review documents the remarkable success of this initiative which takes Smart Cities concepts and applies them in a rural Smart Islands context.
Careful data gathering and analysis, reliable communications infrastructure and technology-literate teaching staff have opened up new curriculum and pedagogical opportunities throughout the islands.
The potential of this approach to extend from schools into vocational and higher education has been demonstrated, and the impact on Cosnadh (employment), Cánan (language), Cultar (culture) and Coimhearsnachd (community) is clear.
The report assesses progress against the funding objectives, describes the transformational business model, and identifies the current and potential economic impacts.
The e-sgoil model is inexpensive, efficient and scalable. It is applicable in remote, rural and dispersed communities regardless of location. The report is can be downloaded here.
Caledonian Economics helps Local Authorities, Health Agencies and National Government develop and deliver excellent PPP projects. We work at all stages of the PPP process: PPP strategy development, business cases, financial modelling, transaction support, Operational PPP performance improvement, rescue of distressed projects, and Public Sector training and capacity building.
Many of the projects we have supported have been open and operating successfully for ten years or more. The senior public sector officials who have been responsible for these projects are uniquely experienced to comment on the most effective approaches to long term management of PPP projects.
We spoke to ten of these public sector professionals, asked about their experiences, and discussed what advice they would give to new projects, now and in the future.
In our new report on Operational PPP projects, we ask seven key questions about the effectiveness of PPP Management, and identify important lessons. You can read what we found out in our new report by downloading it here: Caledonian Economics Report on Operational Projects.
Senior public sector officials from central government departments in Beijing and several Chinese provinces including Jinan, Guangzhou and Hebei have taken part in our PPP Masterclasses this month. This follows events we have run previously for government officials in Latvia and Uruguay and of course many training and development events in Scotland.
Our bespoke events draw from a menu of knowledge areas that covers all financial and commercial aspects of Public Private Partnerships. They provide an ideal opportunity to learn and share expertise that equip participants will skills to develop robust projects which deliver real social and economic benefits.
Our Event Leaders include some of the most experienced PPP practitioners in the world. This professional team has worked at every stage in the PPP development process including sectoral strategy development, feasibility and planning, transaction support, operational performance improvement, and rescue of distressed PPP projects.
Please contact us if you would like to know more about how we can help you shape better projects.
West Dunbartonshire Council’s new 1000 pupil Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School reached financial close on Thursday 31 March 2016. The new school will be built and serviced by Hub West Scotland under a 25 year hub/DBFM/PPP contract.
We were West Dunbartonshire Council’s financial advisers on the project, advising on contract negotiations, financial model analysis and payment mechanism calibration.
