History of the AECC
In September 1965, the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic opened its doors to students for the first time. Although not the first teaching establishment to include 'chiropractic' in its curricula, the AECC was the first chiropractic school in Britain, indeed within Europe, to be recognised and supported by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) and by the international chiropractic community.
Fourteen students enrolled in the first class at AECC in the autumn of 1965, but only one went onto graduate in 1969, joined by an additional student who started his education in America. However, by the mid-70's student numbers had grown so rapidly that the original building and teaching clinic were no longer sufficient. In the early 1980's, the chiropractic community rallied in support of AECC's purchase of the Boscombe Convent. The official opening of the AECC at it's present location, took place on 21st May 1982.
In 1988, the Council for National Academic Awards validated the AECC - now the first school in the field of complementary/alternative medicine in the UK to offer a validated degree. Since then, standards of education have continued to rise, with the AECC providing the gold standard. Today's graduates leave with a Masters degree validated by Bournemouth University.
In 2009, the College opened a state of the art, purpose-built 1500m² teaching clinic boasting 34 treatment rooms, a high-tech functional exercise and rehabilitation centre, diagnostic ultrasound, x-ray and fluoroscopy. The clinic, one of the largest in Europe, has a well earned reputation for excellence in provision of chiropractic care to the local community, treating 55,000 people annually.
The AECC continues to innovate and grow. Here are a few examples:
1. We’ve launched a new 5 year BSc-MSc chiropractic course – the first of its kind.
2. We’ve opened our first satellite clinic, in Southampton, staffed by two graduates under the supervision of the College Principal.
3. We’ve delivered CPD and post-graduate programmes in diagnostic ultrasound for all healthcare professionals including midwives and doctors.
4. We’ve embarked on fundamental research into the relationship between musculoskeletal health and chiropractic manipulation.