Title: Complementary Therapies education for the 21st century

Authors: Brian Isbell

Addresses: Department of Complementary Therapies, School of Integrated Health, University of Westminster, 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW, UK

Abstract: Over the past ten years, an innovative portfolio of over 30 courses in Complementary Therapies (CT) has been developed at the University of Westminster, London, UK. The degrees were the first of their kind and the portfolio now provides the widest selection of CT courses in Europe. This paper explores the history and context of this comprehensive portfolio. The nature of the shared innovative health sciences, practitioner development and research themes of the degrees are described. The role of the unique Polyclinic in preparing students to work in the integrated inter-professional healthcare provision of the 21st century is discussed.

Keywords: complementary therapies; education; integrated healthcare; polyclinics; reflective practice; practice-based learning; practitioner development skills; collaborative practice; inter-professional learning; multidisciplinary education; complementary medicine; alternative medicine; health sciences.

DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2008.018562

World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 2008 Vol.5 No.2, pp.177 - 188

Published online: 30 May 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article