Anglo-European College of Chiropractic
 | |
| Motto | ad salutem manibus per spinam |
|---|---|
Motto in English | "To health with the help of hands through the spine" |
| Established | 1965 |
| Principal | Haymo Thiel |
| Undergraduates | 500 |
| Postgraduates | 125 |
| Location | Bournemouth, Dorset, England |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Website |
www |
 | |
The Anglo-European College of Chiropractic also known as the AECC is a higher education institution offering a Masters in Chiropractic degree validated by Bournemouth University.[1] The AECC also offers a BSc in Exercise Science jointly delivered with Bournemouth University[2] and an Access to Higher Education Diploma.
Alongside the University of South Wales and the McTimoney College of Chiropractic, the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic is one of only three institutions in the United Kingdom to offer chiropractic degrees recognised by the General Chiropractic Council.[3]
History
The college, which is located in Bournemouth on the south coast of England, was founded in 1965 and was the first chiropractic school in Europe to be recognised by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA).[4] Fourteen students enrolled in the first class at AECC in the autumn of 1965, but only one went on to graduate in 1969. However, by the mid-1970s student numbers had grown so rapidly that the original building and teaching clinic were no longer sufficient. In the early 1980s, the chiropractic community rallied in support of AECC's purchase of the Boscombe Convent. The official opening of the AECC at its present location took place on May 21, 1982.[5]
In 1988 the Council for National Academic Awards validated the AECC - now the first school in the field of complementary/alternative medicine in the UK to offer a validated degree.
In 2009 the college opened a state of the art, purpose-built 1500m² teaching clinic boasting 34 treatment rooms, a high-tech functional exercise and rehabilitation centre, diagnostic ultrasound, x-ray and fluoroscopy. The clinic is one of the largest in Europe, treating 55,000 people annually.
In 2011 110 students graduated from the Master in Chiropractic course and the college opened its first satellite clinic in Southampton.
In 2012 the AECC launched a new five year BSc-MSc Chiropractic course – the first of its kind providing three years BSc Human Sciences and two years MSc Chiropractic in a clinical setting.
In 2015 the AECC launched the Open Upright MRI scanner, one of only four in the United Kingdom. This allows patients to be scanned in different positions, such as flexion, extension, sitting or lying down and is particularly beneficial for people who suffer from claustrophobia.
Current Undergraduate Courses
BSc/MSc Chiropractic The AECC offer a 5-year chiropractic programme which provides three years BSc Human Sciences and two years MSc Chiropractic in a clinical setting. To qualify as a chiropractor, new students are required to complete successfully the full-time three year BSc Human Sciences degree followed by the full-time two year postgraduate MSc Chiropractic degree.
BSc(Hons) Clinical Exercise Science degree programme The AECC offer the BSc (Hons) Clinical Exercise Science degree programme, which is accredited by the British Association of Sports and Exercise Science (BASES), and has been voted number one across all UK university BSc Exercise Sciences and BSc Sports Sciences degrees for job prospects in a 2009 Guardian poll.
The programme is intended to provide students with a firm foundation for safe and competent practice in the area of exercise programme design and implementation. It also opens up a wide range of opportunities for students to pursue a career in health care and/or further studies in health-related disciplines.
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Human Health Sciences) The AECC offer the Access to Higher Education Diploma which is for those seeking access to health related higher education courses (degrees) such as chiropractic, exercise science, community health and rehabilitation, physiotherapy, osteopathy or health sciences. This course is part-time and covers the range of skills required to progress to further study once completed.
Continuing Professional Development Courses
The AECC offer a range of continuing professional development courses including short courses and MSc programmes. The courses are offered to many different healthcare professionals including chiropractors, nurses, medical practitioners, osteopaths, physiotherapists, radiographers and exercise scientists.
Facilities
AECC Clinic
Housed within the AECC campus, the AECC clinic is one of the largest in Europe and houses 34 treatment rooms. The clinic is run by AECC faculty alongside final year students known as 'interns'. Interns in the clinic perform more than 55,000 treatments every year.
Exercise and Rehabilitation Centre The Exercise and Rehabilitation Centre houses a range of strengthening and assessment tools. The room houses the following functional assessment equipment:
- Primus – isometric, isotonic and isokinetic assessment and training tool. Can target individual muscle groups or complete functional and sporting movements.
- MCU (multi-cervical unit) – used for neck isometric strength and range of motion testing, as well as for strengthening.
- Quintic – Biomechanical video analysis software. This has a high speed camera that can be slowed down and watched through a laptop and analysed using Quintic. This machine also has EMG (electromyography), which detects electrical activity in muscles so can be used to analyse muscle recruits and activation levels.
The AECC hosted the Icelandic Olympic track and field team prior to their participation in the London 2012 Games.
The centre works with various sporting teams including Southampton FC, AFC Bournemouth, Bournemouth Rugby Football Club and The Seagulls.
Cavendish House - Assessment and Research Centre for Ultrasound Studies
SU Facilities - Toggler's Arms and the Spine & Dine Refectory
Gymnasium
The AECC gym has cardio facilities housing spinning bikes, rowing machines and a cross trainer. It also has a well equipped weights area and climbing wall. The gym is housed within a sports hall which is used for various activities including: netball, hockey, basketball, badminton, handball and football. It also hold various exercise classes through the week.
Library
The AECC library houses a collection of printed books and journals. The library also provides online access to a large number of electronic resources, including databases, e-journals and e-books. Wi-Fi is available on campus as well as space to work independently or in groups. Laptops are also available for loan from the library. All students use learning portal Moodle, where teaching and learning resources are uploaded by faculty members. Students undertaking distance learning can submit work using this method.
Open Upright MRI
The AECC have recently acquired an open upright Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner which is housed in a new extension to the current clinic building. The scanner is one of only four open and upright scanners in the UK, and the only in existence in the South West.
Notable people
- Sven Knipphals - athlete
- Richard Brown - Secretary General of the European Chiropractors' Union
- Matthew Bennett - President of the BCA
References
- ↑ AECC. "About the AECC". AECC. AECC. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ Bournemouth University. "Course Pages".
- ↑ GCC. "Which institutions offer recognised chiropractic degrees?". Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ WCCS. "Anglo European College of Chiropractic". WCCS. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
- ↑ AECC. "History of the AECC".