Annual Report 2005

2005 was a year of change and review in ICOS as the organisation sought to clarify its role and set out its strategic priorities in relation to its key constituencies: international students, its member organisations and the Department of Foreign Affairs for which it administers aspects of the Irish Aid Fellowship Programme and from which it receives over 90% of its funding. This work was carried out against a backdrop of steadily increasing numbers of international students chosing Ireland as an education destination and expected struc-tural changes in the sector signalled in the Government?s Interdepartmental Report on the Internationalisa-tion of Irish Education Services which was published at the end of 2004.

There were also significant internal changes in ICOS during 2005 with my appointment as Director in March and two further permanent staff changes in July.ICOS emerges from the year with a clear and shared vision among its members about what it wants to achieve and a consolidated relationship with the Department of Foreign Affairs which is reflected in the first ever formal partnership agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Irish Aid and ICOS which will run for two years from 1 January, 2006.Finally, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of Chair of ICOS, Marie Lawlor and the other Executive Committee members in steering the organisation adroitly through the many changes and challenges it faced in 2005.

Their work in turn was facilitated by a very hard working and dedicated staff who deserve consid-erable credit for maintaining a very high standard of service to international students and ICOS members while engaging creatively and actively in the review process.We have set ourselves ambitious new targets for 2006 and the years ahead and we look forward to work-ing with all who share our interest in making Ireland a welcoming and quality destination for international students.

Sheila Power, Director