Official Launch of Managing the Sustainable Home – A New Course Offering by CMETB and MABS

Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB), in partnership with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), has launched a new course titled “Managing the Sustainable Home.”

An official launch event was held on Thursday, August 29, at Johnston Central Library, Cavan.
CMETB and MABS, in collaboration with the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), the Northside Partnership and Cavan County Local Development (CCLD), created this innovative programme, which has been validated by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). The event celebrated the collaborative effort among these agencies to develop and validate this new course and bringing it to market for learners.

The launch is particularly timely and relevant, given that sustainability is a crucial issue in today’s society. Sustainable practices are essential for both businesses and individuals alike.

The QQI Level 3 Special Purpose Award in Managing the Sustainable Home aims to enable learners to apply sustainable practices to everyday household management. The award covers three specific areas:
• Budgeting and Financial Management
• Sustainable and Healthy Food Provision
• Sustainable Use of Energy and Utilities

Learners who complete the course will gain a solid grounding in the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) and how these relate to effective, efficient, and sustainable household management. This programme is very welcomed as recent research report commissioned by the Department of Finance and published in April 2024 indicates that about 43% of adults have difficulties with financial understanding.

Speaking at the launch event, Dympna McCarron (Director of Quality Assurance and Enhancement Services, CMETB) said:
“The development of a new programme takes vision and we are proud to see this vision come to life today, offering learners a unique opportunity to enhance their household management skills sustainably.”

Dr. Fiona McGrath (Chief Executive, CMETB) addressed the audience by adding:
“This initiative represents the culmination of dedication, innovation, and a shared commitment to sustainability. I want to extend my thanks to the programme development team from CMETB, CDETB and the Northside Partnership and to MABS for embracing the development of this programme under their services. We are thrilled to launch this course and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have for learners.”
Karl Cronin (Manager, North Connacht and Ulster MABS) said:
“This new course offering perfectly aligns with our mission. At the heart of MABS’ work in communities is providing essential money management education. We are thrilled to offer learners the knowledge and skills to manage their finances effectively and embrace sustainable living. This programme empowers individuals to make informed decisions and lead more sustainable lives.”

If you are interested in learning more about the QQI Level 3 programme in Managing the Sustainable Home, please contact Ceinwen Fergus on ceinwenfergus@cmetb.ie

Picture Caption:
Back row L-R: Martina Needham (Validation Panel – Recognised Prior Learning and Literacy Support), Micheal Geoghegan (Programme Design, Validation and Review Officer, CMETB), Ronan Moran (Chairperson – North Dublin MABS), Adrian O’Connor (Head of Division, ICT, Digital and Data, Citizens Information Board) and Angela Shafer (Community Education Manager, Northside Partnership).
Front Row L-R: Breda Hayes (Adult Literacy Officer, City of Dublin ETB), Dympna McCarron (Director of Quality Assurance and Enhancement Services, CMETB), Dr. Fiona McGrath (Chief Executive, CMETB), Karl Cronin (Manager, North Connacht and Ulster MABS), Gwen Harris (Regional Manager, North Dublin MABS) and Ceinwen Fergus (Regional Literacy Co-ordinator, CMETB).