Mr. Brendan Howlin TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform took time from his busy schedule to officially launch the Institute of Technology Carlow’s new Strategic Plan 2014 - 2018. He addressed an audience of students, faculty and distinguished guests.
Chairman of the Governing Body of Institute of Technology Carlow, Mr. John Moore, welcomed the publication of the Strategic Plan 2014 - 2018 commenting ‘as a large, complex modern Higher Education Institution, a clear strategy with defined goals enables us to align our day-to-day endeavours with a common purpose and direction’.
Minister Howlin endorsed the sentiments of Dr. Patricia Mulcahy, President of the Institute of Technology Carlow, when she emphasised the continuing relevance of the original mission underpinning the establishment of the Institutes of Technology set out in the late 1960’s, ‘If they [the institutions], are to make their most effective contribution to the needs of society and the economy, they must be capable of continuing adaptation to social, economic and technological changes……The progress of these colleges should not be deterred by any artificial limitation of either the scope or the level of their educational achievements’.
Dr. Mulcahy highlighted some of the considerable achievements of the Institute to date while outlining the vision for Technological University designation being pursued collectively by the South East Institutes.
The Institute’s new Strategic Plan is designed to meet national government priorities as well as criteria for Technological University designation.
Regarding the Technological University for the South East, Minister Howlin urged all present to accelerate the programme, adding that the Government would support efforts to do so in any way it could.
In response to Dr. Patricia Mulcahy’s highlighting of the capital requirements of the Carlow and Wexford campuses of the Institute, the Minister informed the gathering that he was open to looking at the provision of capital infrastructure projects through the PPP model.
The Minister enjoyed a comprehensive tour of the main facilities at the Institute and commented on the positive community atmosphere on campus and the strong sense of energy and focus amongst the student body, who are soon to commence their final examinations.
Student’s Union President Mr. Podge Sheehan summed up student life at the Institute with a recent quote from a student “IT Carlow is my home away from home. The staff are highly accessible, from the president to the porters. You are part of something really special. What makes it great is the feeling you get walking through the halls. It’s unique’.