diff --git a/lbplanner/classes/helpers/config_helper.php b/lbplanner/classes/helpers/config_helper.php
index 47e7a8e0..b2919e4b 100644
--- a/lbplanner/classes/helpers/config_helper.php
+++ b/lbplanner/classes/helpers/config_helper.php
@@ -30,33 +30,6 @@
  * @license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 International or later
  */
 class config_helper {
-    /**
-     * Sets the current active year
-     */
-    public static function set_default_active_year() {
-        $currentmonth = idate('m');
-        $currentyear = idate('Y') % 100;
-        $lastyear = $currentyear - 1;
-        $nextyear = $currentyear + 1;
-        // Adding the default active year, when the plugin is installed for the first time.
-        // If the current month is between August and December, the default active year is set to current year and the next year.
-        if ($currentmonth >= 8 && $currentmonth <= 12) {
-            set_config(
-                'defaultactiveyear',
-                $currentyear . '/' . $nextyear,
-                'local_lbplanner'
-            );
-            // If the current month is between January and July, the default active year is set to the previous year and the
-            // current year.
-        } else {
-            set_config(
-                'defaultactiveyear',
-                $lastyear . '/' . $currentyear,
-                'local_lbplanner'
-            );
-        }
-    }
-
     /**
      * Adds a customfield to moodle for each activity where teachers can select GK EK Test or M.
      * Default value is empty.
diff --git a/lbplanner/classes/helpers/course_helper.php b/lbplanner/classes/helpers/course_helper.php
index 96c5a865..eff74118 100644
--- a/lbplanner/classes/helpers/course_helper.php
+++ b/lbplanner/classes/helpers/course_helper.php
@@ -58,21 +58,6 @@ class course_helper {
             "#CA37B9",
         ];
 
-    /**
-     * Get the current school year from the config
-     * Definition of a school year: 2020/2021
-     * Check in config_helper.php for more info how the date is set for defaultactiveyear
-     *
-     * @return string the current year the last 2 digits (20/20)
-     * @throws dml_exception
-     */
-    public static function get_current_year(): string {
-        if (strpos(get_config('local_lbplanner', 'activeyear'), '/') !== false) {
-            return get_config('local_lbplanner', 'activeyear');
-        }
-        return get_config('local_lbplanner', 'defaultactiveyear');
-    }
-
     /**
      * Get course from lbpanner DB
      *
@@ -88,7 +73,7 @@ public static function get_lbplanner_course(int $courseid, int $userid): course
     }
 
     /**
-     * Get all the courses of the current year.
+     * Get all current courses.
      * @return course[] all courses of the current year
      */
     public static function get_all_lbplanner_courses(): array {
@@ -98,14 +83,12 @@ public static function get_all_lbplanner_courses(): array {
         $mdlcourses = enrol_get_my_courses();
         // Remove Duplicates.
         $mdlcourses = array_unique($mdlcourses, SORT_REGULAR);
-        // Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmdAk2zyQkU .
         $results = [];
 
         foreach ($mdlcourses as $mdlcourse) {
             $courseid = $mdlcourse->id;
-            // Check if the course is from the current year.
-            // TODO: pass fullname to function instead of courseid.
-            if (!self::check_current_year($courseid)) {
+            // Check if the course is outdated.
+            if (!course::check_year($mdlcourse)) {
                     continue;
             }
             // Check if the course is already in the LB Planner database.
@@ -128,6 +111,7 @@ public static function get_all_lbplanner_courses(): array {
             }
             // Add name to fetched Course.
             $fetchedcourse->set_fullname($mdlcourse->fullname);
+            $fetchedcourse->set_mdlcourse($mdlcourse);
             array_push($results, $fetchedcourse);
         }
         return $results;
@@ -160,16 +144,4 @@ public static function check_access(int $courseid, int $userid): bool {
     public static function get_fullname(int $courseid): string {
         return get_course($courseid)->fullname;
     }
-
-    /**
-     * Check if the course is from the current year
-     *
-     * @param int $courseid the course id
-     *
-     * @return bool true if the course is from the current year
-     * @throws dml_exception
-     */
-    public static function check_current_year(int $courseid): bool {
-        return strpos(self::get_fullname($courseid), self::get_current_year()) !== false;
-    }
 }
diff --git a/lbplanner/classes/model/course.php b/lbplanner/classes/model/course.php
index ee2654e3..07db999b 100644
--- a/lbplanner/classes/model/course.php
+++ b/lbplanner/classes/model/course.php
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 namespace local_lbplanner\model;
 
 use core_external\{external_single_structure, external_value};
+use DateTimeImmutable;
 use local_lbplanner\helpers\course_helper;
 
 /**
@@ -61,6 +62,10 @@ class course {
      * @var bool $enabled whether the user wants to see this course
      */
     public bool $enabled;
+    /**
+     * @var ?\stdClass $mdlcourse cached moodle course object
+     */
+    private ?\stdClass $mdlcourse;
 
     /**
      * Constructs a new course
@@ -79,6 +84,7 @@ public function __construct(int $id, int $courseid, int $userid, string $shortna
         $this->set_color($color);
         $this->enabled = $enabled;
         $this->fullname = null;
+        $this->mdlcourse = null;
     }
 
     /**
@@ -153,6 +159,7 @@ public function set_enabled(bool $enabled) {
 
     /**
      * sets the cached fullname (mainly for deduplicating DB requests)
+     * TODO: remove in favour of cached mdluser
      * @param string $fullname the cached fullname
      */
     public function set_fullname(string $fullname) {
@@ -188,6 +195,41 @@ public static function prepare_shortname(string $shortname): string {
         return strtoupper($shortname);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Check if the course is outdated
+     * @param \stdClass $mdlcourse the moodle course object to check
+     * @return bool false if the course's end is one year or longer ago, true otherwise
+     */
+    public static function check_year(\stdClass $mdlcourse): bool {
+        $enddate = $mdlcourse->enddate;
+        $now = new DateTimeImmutable();
+        $dti = $now->setTimestamp($enddate);
+        return $now->diff($dti)->y >= 0;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * sets the associated moodle course (for caching)
+     * @param \stdClass $mdlcourse
+     */
+    public function set_mdlcourse(\stdClass $mdlcourse): void {
+        if ($this->mdlcourse !== null) {
+            throw new \coding_exception('tried to set cached mdluser twice');
+        }
+        $this->mdlcourse = $mdlcourse;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * gets the associated moodle course
+     * @return \stdClass mdlcourse
+     */
+    public function get_mdlcourse(): \stdClass {
+        if ($this->mdlcourse === null) {
+            $this->mdlcourse = get_course($this->id);
+        }
+
+        return $this->mdlcourse;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Prepares data for the DB endpoint.
      * doesn't set ID if it's 0
diff --git a/lbplanner/db/install.php b/lbplanner/db/install.php
index 5f4dbe0f..71a98d0b 100644
--- a/lbplanner/db/install.php
+++ b/lbplanner/db/install.php
@@ -30,6 +30,5 @@
  * Runs when plugin is first installed
  */
 function xmldb_local_lbplanner_install() {
-    config_helper::set_default_active_year();
     config_helper::add_customfield();
 }
diff --git a/lbplanner/db/upgrade.php b/lbplanner/db/upgrade.php
index 52c389ac..5102d297 100644
--- a/lbplanner/db/upgrade.php
+++ b/lbplanner/db/upgrade.php
@@ -34,9 +34,11 @@
  */
 function xmldb_local_lbplanner_upgrade($oldversion): bool {
     if ($oldversion < 2024022700) {
-        config_helper::set_default_active_year();
         config_helper::add_customfield();
     }
+    if ($oldversion < 20250117) {
+        unset_config('defaultactiveyear', 'local_lbplanner');
+    }
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/lbplanner/version.php b/lbplanner/version.php
index 2ea23f9b..c7015d60 100644
--- a/lbplanner/version.php
+++ b/lbplanner/version.php
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
  * Defines versioning
  *
  * @package local_lbplanner
- * @copyright 2024 NecodeIT
+ * @copyright 2025 NecodeIT
  * @license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 International or later
  */
 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 
 $plugin->component = 'local_lbplanner';
 $plugin->release = 'Alpha v.'.$release;
-$plugin->version = 2024031200;
+$plugin->version = 2025011800;
 $plugin->dependencies = [
     // Depend upon version 2023110600 of local_modcustomfields.
     'local_modcustomfields' => 2023110600,