PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AS A MODEL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND PEDAGOGICAL STANDARDS: THE CASE OF VARAŽDIN COUNTY, CROATIA

Purpose. The aim of the paper is to analyse the model of public-private partnership in Varaždin County for the purpose of developing educational infrastructure and strengthening the pedagogical standard. Design. A public-private partnership stands for a joint activity of the public and private sectors in the production of public goods or the provision of public services, either at the central government level or at the local self-government unit. The need for public-private cooperation is more common at the local level because global trends such as decentralization bind the local self-government to search for effective responses on their responsibilities. Based on the theoretical background of public-private partnership and the analysis of the external environment of the public-private partnership model on the example of the Varaždin County in the field of education, key factors that influence the model of public-private partnerships have been identified. Moreover, the effects of such partnerships between the public and private sector have been identified too, as well as the weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in applying such a model at the local and regional level and in the education sector. Findings. In order to increase the efficiency of the country in the terms of publicprivate partnership, the benefits of a public-private partnership model should be recognized and the limitations should be reduced by providing the set of standards for the co-financing the model of public-private partnership for each sector separately (education sector, public transport, healthcare, environment, public order and safety, energy and etc.)