Dr Anne Looney, CEO, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, at the launch of the Cavan Institute Strategic Plan with members of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee - Yvonne Kerr, tutor; Adrian Delaney, deputy director; Dr Anne Looney, CEO, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; Ann Marie Lacey, director, Cavan Institute; Cllr Madeleine Argue, chairperson, Co Cavan VEC; Louise Clarke, tutor and Finola Keogh, tutor.

Cormac Coughlan

"You can either wait around or you can do something in these times and Cavan Institute are doing something with the launch of this strategic plan." So said Dr Anne Looney, chief executive of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, at the launch of Cavan's Institute's five-year strategic plan last Friday.

Dr Looney, who described what Cavan Institute was doing as "sexy", was one of the guest speakers at the launch in the college, along with Tom Collins, former president of NUI Maynooth.

The strategic plan is the first of its kind among further education colleges such as Cavan. The plan will cover the period 2012 right up to 2016. The plan looks to improve the college in three key areas - education offering, student experience and organisation capacity.

Also speaking at the launch event, Tom Collins described the plan as a statement of confidence and spoke about rebuilding nationally by starting locally and for local people to think internationally. "Cavan has the capability of doing this," he said.

Chairperson of the County Cavan Vocational Education Committee, Madeleine Argue, officially opened the launch. "This plan continues the commitment to all aspects of the Cavan community and will allow the institute to expand and adapt."

Meanwhile, Colm McEvoy, CEO of County Cavan VEC, closed the launch by stating that he could stand on any stage among third level education bodies and talk about Cavan Institute with pride.

Following the launch, Ann Marie Lacey, director of the Cavan Institute, described the event as a great success. "There was a big turn out and that shows the strength of the institute. Today we set out our road map for the future. This plan was an effort by the students, faculty and businesses. It really was a local effort."

The Anglo-Celt featured a detailed interview with Ms Lacey in relation to the new plan in a previous issue.