It is in everyone's interest that the standard of education is high. And today many corporations are moving beyond philanthropy to become more involved in education at all levels. According to a survey of 123 private sector executives and 88 respondents from educational institutions, conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by Cisco, this is a good thing. Overall, 76% of respondents say a rise in private sector involvement in education in their country is positive. As a result, 92% of all respondents say it is important for the private sector to advocate in favour of improvements in academic performance to policy-makers. The private sector has not missed this point. The question is not if, but rather how, corporations become engaged in education.

These are the key findings of an Economist Intelligence Unit report, also sponsored by Cisco-Global education 20/20: What role for the private sector? The research also shows that the private sector is aiming to balance direct engagement against policy interaction depending on educational level. "Better education is in everyone's interest", says Kim Andreasson, senior editor, Industry & Management Research at the Economist Intelligence Unit and author of the report "And the private sector can play an important role in education even though it is unlikely to replace the role of the state."

The main findings of the report include:

• Corporations can make a difference. When asked if the private sector can affect education policy in their country, 94% of all respondents say it can affect policy either to a great extent (41%) or to some extent (53%). Among those who said the private sector can influence policy to a great extent, 96% also said is was somewhat or very important for the private sector to advocate for increased levels of academic performance to policy-makers.
• Engagement is pragmatic. For a corporation, it is easier to become involved at the university level where there is a natural link to the private sector through internships, employment opportunities and fundraising. For lower educational levels the gap is wider and the influence not felt as much. Only 8% of all respondents say that corporations are somewhat or very involved in the development of primary education curricula; for secondary education the equivalent number is 9%. However, that number rises greatly at higher education levels. Twenty-five percent of all respondents say the private sector is somewhat or very involved in curriculum development at the college level, and almost half (48%) say the same about graduate school.
• But will the commitment last? When asked about the most important global educational trend over the next decade, only 14% of all respondents predict it will be a growth in private sector involvement. With the current economic turmoil, most corporations are focused on survival. One-fifth (21%) of survey respondents say the involvement of the private sector in education increases in an economic downturn while almost half (46%) say it decreases. About a quarter (27%) says it neither increases; nor decreases.