Renewed Strategies at SSI

Following a successful summer for Irish students at the World University Games, Student Sport Ireland (SSI), last week launched its new Strategic Plan for 2017-20 at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus in Abbotstown.The ambitious plan, entitled “Working For Third Level Sport and Physical Activity” lays out the principles and strategic objectives that will guide the organisation’s into 2020. Continuing on the momentum from the SSI 2016 commissioned Student Activity and Sports Study Ireland (SASSI), the largest all Ireland research project on third level student participation and physical activity, the updated plan will further concrete development of emerging talent in Irish universities. Speaking at the launch SSI Honorary Chairperson Ms Carmel Lynch was delighted with the launch commenting, “In developing the new strategic plan, SSI recognises the changing landscape of student sport to include alongside the highly successful intercollegiate and international dimension initiatives to increase physical activity participation amongst the student population as a priority for our organisation.  Aligning our strategy with Healthy Ireland – Get Ireland Active 2016 and Sport Northern Ireland’s Sport Matters strategic objectives and working in partnership with key stakeholders will be the main principle which will guide SSI during the lifetime of the strategic plan. With the support of the Governing Bodies SSI is committed to working with individual colleges in supporting an all- encompassing holistic approach to increased physical activity initiatives across the third level sector”.Up through the ranks of the sporting spheres there has been positive reaction to the plans with the Sport Ireland Chief Executive John Treacy adding, “I would like to congratulate Student Sport Ireland on the production of this excellent strategy. We have already seen significant progression over the course of the previous strategic period and I have no doubt that Student Sport Ireland, with the hard work and support of its members, will go from strength to strength over the life cycle of this strategy. I look forward to continued partnership between Sport Ireland and Student Sport Ireland. I wish everybody involved in the Student Sport Ireland all the very best for the coming years.”The new strategic plan was the brainchild of University College Dublin Director of Health Promotion Mr Brian Mullins. Summing up the project he explained, “I would like to thank my colleagues on the working group for their diligent work in the production of this important document for SSI. In setting about its work the group consulted extensively both internally with its own members and also colleagues across the sport and physical activity sector within Sport Ireland, Sport Northern Ireland and the national governing bodies of sport. This initial piece of work subsequently guided the group in its deliberations and framed the drafting of the new plan. SSI has a proven track record in the delivery of programmes that provides students the opportunity to compete at intercollegiate and international competitions. The central focus of the new strategic plan is that SSI is now committed to aligning its aims and objectives with those of its partner organisations “To get more people more active more often”