DCU launches Strategic Plan 2010 - 2012

23 June 2010

At his last formal engagement as President of DCU, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski today launched the university's Strategic Plan for 2010-2012, 'DCU: Making a Difference'.

The plan sets out the university's mission as it enters its fourth decade. Today's event focused on one of the university's key strategic priorities, 'to promote civic and community engagement'.

Speaking at the event, Professor von Prondzynski said, "Over the past 12 years or so Ireland has lifted its university system into a different league. What were once modestly resourced teaching institutions are now world-leading research universities, making Ireland an attractive location for investment and for high value business start-ups. DCU has become a university in global league tables during that time. But we also ensured that we would remain inclusive and socially aware, and that we actively pursued high ethical standards. This position is at risk of being undermined now, and we need to ensure that we continue to offer excellent teaching and world-leading research. We also need to ensure that we do not neglect the marginalised and the vulnerable".

"Over the next few years DCU will continue to be the leading university for focused high value research in which the benefits of the research are made available to society, a university with teaching and learning innovation that give students both quality and flexibility, and a university that is committed to supporting the community", he said.

The event was attended by President Mary McAleese, who said, “It has been said that we cannot always build the future for our youth but we can build our youth for the future and there can be little doubt but a commitment to original research and scholarship is essential if we are to remain competitive within the world’s smart economies. DCU’s Strategy Plan is designed to provide our young people with the opportunities to become the leaders, innovators, problem solvers and entrepreneurs that our society now requires as an innovative globalised export oriented economy."

The President went on to say, " The Rev Martin Luther King once said that “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. The same criteria can be applied to a community or indeed a society. As we begin to see some signs of recovery from the economic storm, the challenge now is to develop policies and strategies that will restore hope, confidence and positive momentum - so that quality and sustainable jobs are created for current and future generations; so that essential public services are protected and developed; so that an inclusive society equitably embraces vulnerable citizens and communities; so that our environment is not abused but used wisely, so that it is conserved and sustained for future generations. The social cohesion, community common
sense and solidarity which characterises Irish civic life allows us to be sure that this moment of crisis will not overwhelm us but rather will encourage us to radically alter the old institutional narratives of State, Church and Business which have been shown to be in urgent need of repair, reform and renewal”.

The event was attended by a group of senior citizens and DCU students who participated in a pilot project on 'Intergenerational Learning'. The project involved the bringing together of older learners and volunteer DCU students in a class on ICT skills, with further modules on 'Understanding the Media', 'Creative Writing' and 'Introduction to Science' planned for
the future.

According to Project Director, Dr Trudy Corrigan, "For the most part, older people are invisible in the literature on lifelong learning. This project provides a voice for older people and it makes them more visible in third level learning. This has the potential to enhance the quality of their life through meeting with younger students and through becoming part of third
level learning in a more visible way. The younger students bring their youth, vitality and energy to the learning experience, and benefit from the fun, the insight, the wisdom and the lived experience of older people. The learning experience of both generations is enhanced".

DCU's three other core values are to maintain and develop a reputation for excellence in student-centred, interdisciplinary learning innoation; to promote innovation through creative staff carrying out translational research with commercial, cultural and social benefits; and to pursue strategic alliances to stimulate learning, discovery and enterprise.

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski's successor, Professor Brian MacCraith, takes up office on 14 July 2010.