QAA awarded contract to deliver quality assurance for GOsC

Osteopathic training courses generally lead to a university-validated bachelor’s or master’s degree in osteopathy. Training usually consists of four years of full-time study, five years part-time or a mixture of full and part-time. There are also courses with accelerated learning pathways for doctors and physiotherapists.

The GOsC recognition of a qualification confirms that the course prepares students to practise osteopathy in accordance with the GOsC's Osteopathic PracticeStandards. All osteopaths in the UK, wherever they work, must be registered with the GOsC.

There are currently 11 providers offering GOsC-recognised training programmes, and approximately 300 students obtain qualifications from these programmes every year. Quality assurance has been delivered by QAA for the GOsC for over 10 years.

GOsC Chief Executive Tim Walker said: “We are delighted to be continuing to work with QAA and we value our partnership with them in assuring the quality of osteopathic training for the benefit of patients.”

Dr David Gale, Assistant Director QAA, said: “We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the General Osteopathic Council as we work with them to develop an improved review method for quality assuring their training courses in the future.”

The GOsC is now consulting with QAA over the development of a new review method.

The new contract between QAA and the GOsC will run until 2018.

ENDS

For further information, contact:

• Rosalind Moore, QAA Communications Officer: r.moore@qaa.ac.uk, 01452 389643, or
• GOsC Press Office: pressoffice@osteopathy.org.uk, 020 7357 6655 x245.

Notes to editors

1. QAA safeguards the public interest in the quality and standards of UK higher education. We check how UK universities and colleges maintain their academic standards and quality. We review and report on how they meet their responsibilities, identify good practice and make recommendations for improvement. We publish guidelines to help UK universities and colleges develop effective systems to ensure students have the best learning experience. Further information is available at: www.qaa.ac.uk
2. The reviews carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) are published by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC): www.osteopathy.org.uk/training-and-registration/becoming-an-osteopath/training-courses/
3. The primary standards for the quality assurance of osteopathic education are the Osteopathic Practice Standards. A guide to the content and delivery of osteopathic education is provided in the Osteopathy Benchmark Statement developed by QAA in conjunction with the osteopathic educational community and the GOsC. QAA has invited comments on a draft version of the Subject Benchmark Statement for Osteopathy as part of the review of the current statement.
4. The General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) has a statutory duty to regulate the practice of osteopathy in the UK. Osteopaths must be registered with the GOsC in order to practise in the UK. We work with the public and the profession to promote patient safety by:
• registering qualified professionals
• setting, maintaining and developing standards of osteopathic practice and
• conduct
• assuring the quality of osteopathic education
• ensuring continuing professional development
• helping patients with concerns or complaints about an osteopath.
5. For further information about the work of the GOsC and osteopathic standards of education and training, see http://www.osteopathy.org.uk