Who Benefits? A Comparison of School-Firm Partnerships

In an increasingly competitive global economy, is the partnership between companies and schools one solution to the need for a highly skilled workforce? At a time when schools are perceived to be performing poorly, what are the implications of increased private sector involvement in the public schools? In her fascinating comparative study of school-firm partnerships in Chicago and Berlin, cities with significantly different market economies, Elisabeth Muhlenberg analyzes how these initiatives intertwine company aims, such as improved civic reputations and school-to-work pipelines, with a school's social, skills and knowledge goals. She discusses the relative impact of national and local institutions on these Corporate Citizenship initiatives and offers insights into the factors that promise the greatest benefits for the schools and the companies. Muhlenberg also points out some of the challenging conditions of this type of cooperation. The result is an important contribution to the fields of education and management that will be of interest to anyone involved in bridging the divide between business and the public schools.