CIEN E4141: Public-Private Partnerships in Global Infrastructure Development

With trillions needed to modernize U.S. infrastructure, this course reveals how public-private partnerships (PPPs) can help close the gap—when they work, why they fail, and what engineers and industry leaders need to know to make them succeed.

Course Overview

The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that the amount of investment gap in US infrastructure will be approximately $3.6 trillion over the next ten years. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) will fill a significant portion of that investment gap with private capital. PPPs do not fit every infrastructure need in the United States for many reasons. Engineers, constructors, designers, environmental experts and industry experts must know how PPPs work.

This course explores how public-private partnerships (PPPs) succeed or fail, with a particular focus on the interplay between engineering, financial investment, and analysis. You will examine how PPPs serve the interests of both public and private sector stakeholders. You will also look at the use of digital twins, financial controls and monitoring, and software employed by international PPP players. By the end of this course, you will have a solid understanding of the advantages and limitations of PPPs, and how they influence the investment gap in funding infrastructure modernization in the U.S. and globally.

You must complete CIEN E4133: Capital Facilities Planning and Financing to take this course.

Course Instructors

Patrick Foye

Adjunct Professor

Foye was Executive Director of the Port Authority of NY and NJ for six years. During that time, he initiated and completed the Public Private Partnership for LaGuardia PPP, which was a $5 billion+ transaction resulting in what Forbes Magazine has ranked as “the best airport in the nation”. In addition, his team initiated and completed the PPP for a new Goethals Bridge, which was completed for approximately $1.5 billion transaction. Foye also served as President of the MTA for two years, and then Chairman and CEO for another two years during COVID. 

Prior to this, Foya worked in mergers and acquisitions for Skadden Arps, an international law firm, where he led the Brussels, Budapest and Moscow offices. He was responsible for leading PPP transactions in Hungary, Czech Republic and Greece converting State Owned Enterprises into investor-owned entities.