With the increasing popularity of the Public Private Partnership model, more and more universities and academic institutions are developing PPP educational programs which aim to train future PPP specialists and economists in effective management of the projects.

Toyo University in Japan has been one of the leading institutions for Public Private Partnership education over the last decade. Toyo University set up Japan’s first Public Private Partnership (PPP) course in Graduate School of Economics in 2006. And the Research Center for Public/Private Partnership opened in 2008. Today, Toyo University is playing a role as a core organization for PPP in terms of both education and research.

In the university courses like the “PPP Theory II,” students are divided into groups and formulate and compete their requests for proposals (RFPs) and proposals. The Research Center generated a hypothesis concerning causes of failed and successful RFP on the basis of empirical data. In order to practically apply this hypothesis, many local municipalities support formulation of RFP and projects to use public properties.

The research center also conducts education/research activities on PPP and supports companies and municipalities to participate in projects in Asian countries, in order to solve problems such as lack of public funds, as well as lack of know-how for PPP. As an example of education/research activities, the center is scheduled to produce textbooks to be an international standard, hold intensive courses and seminars, and implement supportive programs for regional revitalization. As Toyo University was recognized as a UN PPP education/research organization in July 2011, those activities will play a major role in PPP promotion activities of the UN in Asia.

Cornell University, which is one of the best Ivy League schools in the United States, also offered a Program on public-private partnerships for Senior- and middle-level leaders in both the public and private sectors this fall. The Program was designed to help develop the capabilities public and private sector leaders need to successfully plan, create, and operate infrastructure PPPs. The Program considered PPPs in both network infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, tunnels, and water systems, as well as social infrastructure including schools, hospitals, and courthouses.