Since the end of the previous century collaboration between the public sector and private companies in the building, financing and management of infrastructures, facilities and services via long-term contracts has turned into one of the most powerful tools for development. Spanish companies have specialised in this type of collaboration and hold leading positions in the global classification of this activity.

The current global economic and financial crisis makes it even more obvious that public-private partnerships in the management of infrastructures, facilities and services will form one of the mainstays of economic activity in the future. The predictable scarcity of budgetary resources available to public authorities will give, with the support of experienced private-sector development companies, an additional boost to the growth of investments contributing to social wellbeing in both developed and developing countries without adding to their budget deficits.

Given the complexity of this type of contracts the professionals in charge of them are expected to have a set of exceptional managerial skills and abilities, including a high level of technical and economic expertise as well as familiarity with business management methods and the capacity to adapt quickly to changes in market conditions. These are the very principles underlying the contents and methodology of this masters course organised jointly by the Association of Civil Engineers and Madrid Polytechnic University, whose Tenth edition is presented in this brochure. The excellent results achieved in previous editions have been confirmed by the some two hundred and seventy professionals who have graduated and now hold key positions in public administration, business and finance, companies specialising in the development and construction of infrastructures and facilities, consulting companies, universities, in the Spanish Army, etc.

Aware of the need to maintain a leading position in specialised postgraduate education, which has characterised its previous editions, the masters management team has carried on analysing global changes in this type of contracts, covering new cases and attracting new experienced professors and lecturers.

Since this project got under way its organisers have received wholehearted support from its sponsors, who are aware of the high degree of interest generated by this initiative. Every year the reputation of Spanish industry and the masters degree itself also attracts students of other nationalities – students that help enrich the exchange of knowledge and experience offered by the course. We want to express our sincere thanks to these sponsors.