Athlone Institue of Technology have confirmed that they have been forced to discontinue their audiology degree course.
The degree was developed as part of the institute’s expanding provision of health science programmes. Unfortunately AIT were unable to secure accreditation from the British Academy of Audiology, leaving them with no choice but to remove the course.
Despite claims from politicians that the audiology class was only informed this week, a spokesperson for AIT has ensured that the class were completely informed throughout the accreditation process.
A statement from AIT released this week explains that without accreditation the course could not run. “On 29 July 2013, AIT was advised that the BAA had recently decided that it will in future only accredit programmes within the UK, as a consequence of which it will not accredit the AIT course. The Higher Education Authority (HEA ) then advised AIT to discontinue the programme. Accreditation of the degree was central to the current cohort of students being able to undertake clinical placement in the third year of the BSc.
“AIT deeply regrets this situation and the difficulties which it has raised for students and their families. The institute has kept the students informed of developments regarding the degree at all stages and our priority is to support them as they make their choices regarding their future college options.”
