NUI Galway course is cancelled over failure to get accreditation

NUI Galway failed to get approval from the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI) for a BSc in occupational therapy which was to begin there yesterday because the course has yet to meet international standards.

Twenty-five students had been enrolled on the course. However, in light of the AOTI's refusal to grant official accreditation, it has not gone ahead as planned.

In the absence of AOTI approval, graduates of the four-year degree course would not have been licensed to practise occupational therapy in the State.

NUI Galway, which was informed of the move yesterday, said it was "surprised and shocked" by the decision to withhold accreditation.

The AOTI has said it regrets the effect the decision has had on students who were enrolled ahead of the completion of the approval and accreditation process, and indicated it would continue to work with the university in an effort to ensure it achieved the required standard.

The accreditation process can take up to two years, with the AOTI carrying out numerous assessments. In the case of NUI Galway, the process got under way in January this year. In August the AOTI told the university that the green light had yet to be given.

In a statement NUI Galway said that "at no time did the university have reason to believe that the association was considering refusal until it received a letter on August 27th", after places on the course had been offered and accepted.