BAAB renewed accreditation event

In November 2009 ICOM successfully completed a renewed accreditation event. The British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB) are the accrediting arm of the professional body, the British Acupuncture Council. It is responsible for ensuring that courses meet the very rigorous standards required for training students to become acupuncture practitioners.

The BAAB's key concerns are patient safety, student focus, and clear educational standards. The visiting panel met all levels of staff and students, as well as the governing body, and the outcome of the event is that ICOM has met the requirements for continued accreditation.

Everyone at ICOM felt the process to be developmental and constructive and we are delighted with the results.

Library update:

We welcome our new Librarian, Katarina Mimica, to ICOM. We have a new project underway to improve the library space, by building new shelving units around the room, archiving older texts and journals, classifying past dissertations and essential texts in a clearer way and updating library lending policies.

Open Days

We run Information Seminar days at least once a month. They are a great opportunity for you to come and find out more about the course, the people and what we do here. They are held in the mornings, from 10am to 12.00pm , at ICO M.

We offer you a short talk on the course and our philosophy, a tour of our building and facilities, the opportunity to chat to current students, and then you will observe an acupuncture treatment in an interactive session. This is followed by a light sandwich lunch with further time to chat and ask questions. Please see the home page for dates of our Seminar days and interviews.

Booking for Information Seminar days is essential as places are limited (we like to keep the groups fairly small). For those unable to attend on these dates, please call us to arrange an informal visit or discussion. Tel 01342 313106

Graduation day

is on Saturday 10 July 2010 this year, starting at the slightly earlier time of 2.00pm. Final year students, get ready for a really special day and let Gill know your guest list please!

Our 2008 Graduates have brought us up to date with their current news; all of it quite exciting! Lucy and Amy have set up a clinic in Shanghai, Lucy’s working part-time as Chief English Editor for Shanghai University of TCM Foreign Language Press. Kya is successfully building up her practice in Scotland; Judy, Dominic, Maurice, Ed and Judy are working in the ICOM clinic as well as promoting their private practices and Indy and Nik are busy in Australia, also building their clinics. Miranda, Roy and Manhi are treating in Brighton. We are proud of all of their individual paths and achievements – well done.

CHAC

ICOM is a member of the Council of Heads of Acupuncture Courses (CHAC) a forum for BAAB accredited course leaders to meet and share best educational practice. ICOM currently holds the Chair of CHAC and is due to host the annual “Sharing Best Practice” event in the spring of 2010. Small teams from each of the BAAB-accredited acupuncture teaching institutions around the UK meet to discuss, share and demonstrate aspects of acupuncture education in the best interests of all students.