The International Academy of Osteopathy (IAO) is an international college that offers academic courses leading to degrees in osteopathy.
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The International Academy of Osteopathy has locations in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Students can obtain the Diploma in Osteopathy (DO), the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Osteopathic Studies (BSc.(Hons)Ost.Stud.) and the Master of Science in Osteopathy (MSc.Ost.). The programs are accedited through agreements with Buckinghamshire New University and the University of Applied Sciences Tyrol (Fachhochschule Gesundheit Tirol). The courses are internationally recognised and are in accordance with the Bologna process.
History
The IAO was established in 1987 by Michel Janssens (†1995), Grégoire Lason, and Luc Peeters. In that same year the first courses were started in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Over the years, the IAO has developed into Europe's largest academy for osteopathy.
2015 Accreditation of the Master course in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences – Tyrol by the German accreditation organisation AHPGS. As a result, the full Master, which is worth 120 credits, complies fully with the Bologna Process. Unique in Europe!
2014 The IAO changed the full-time course from a four-year course to a five-year course, to comply fully with the Bologna process. Buckinghamshire New University (London) agreed to accredits the first three years of the full-time course and to confer the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Osteopathic Studies. The subsequent two-year Master course is accredited by the University of Applied Sciences of Tyrol, which confers the degree MSc.Ost. In October 2014, the Dutch CPION (Centre for Post Initial Education in the Netherlands) approved the curriculum of the International Academy of Osteopathy, and the degrees.
2013 The IAO starts a modular course for osteopathy in Cairo, Egypt. The first cohort of students has more than 40 participants. The IAO establishes its 16th training centre in Germany. Osteopathy courses are now offered in 16 German cities, two Austrian cities, with one course in Denmark and Switzerland. 2,500 students follow a course at the IAO and the IAO now has a teaching staff of 150 teachers and assistants.
2011 The IAO begins a relationship with the ISO Paris osteopathy school. This also allows French-speaking students to obtain this French diploma, enabling them to work legally as osteopaths in France. In collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences the IAO organises the Master course in Innsbruck, Berlin and Ghent. 25 students (mainly IAO teachers) graduate as Masters of Science in Osteopathy MSc.Ost.
2009 The IAO begins a relationship with the University of Applied Science – Tyrol (fhg). In collaboration with this university, the IAO organises a Master of Science course in osteopathy (120 credits). The first cohort of students begins in October 2009.
2008 The IAO is recognised by the NUFFIC, meaning that Dutch students receive subsidies and study funding from the Dutch State. The IAO is recognised by the Flemish Government as a training provider in the context of the SME portfolio.
2004 The full-time course at the IAO is accredited by the University of Wales. This accreditation becomes a fact through external audits and the support of “external examiners”. Students obtain the BSc. (Hons) Ost. after a 4-year course.
2003 Start of the academic relationship with the University of Wales. The IAO obtains the quality standard ISO9001 in “Osteopathic Training and Education”. This was unique for a school in Europe.
2001 The political situation in Belgium obstructs the implementation of the Colla Law. The law is not further developed as described.
1999 The Belgian Federal Parliament passes the “Law on non-conventional therapies/Colla Law”. This is a framework law designed to regulate osteopathy, acupuncture, homeopathy and chiropraxy. The IAO plays an active role in this process. All IAO osteopath teachers obtain the BSc.(Hons) Ost. at the University of Westminster.
1997 The IAO obtains the quality standard ISO9008 in “Osteopathic Training and Education”. This was unique for a school in Europe. Fourteen teachers from the IAO obtain the academic degree Bachelor of Science (with Honours) in Osteopathic Medicine (BSc.(Hons) Ost. Med. at the University of Westminster.
1996 Full-time undergraduate osteopathic training was instituted by IAO. Intense contact with BCOM (British College of Osteopathic Medicine) with the aim of accelerating the academic development of training.
1994 Start of the full-time course in Ghent. Number of contact hours: 3,345. The course is full-time and lasts 5 years.
1991 The number of contact hours (initially 900 hours) was increased to 1,250 contact hours.
1987 Establishment of the IAO as a postgraduate training institute for physiotherapists and doctors wanting to study osteopathy.
Locations
The IAO offers trainings in Austria (Innsbruck, Vienna), Belgium (Antwerp, Ghent, Mont-Saint-Guibert), Denmark (Copenhagen), Egypt (Cairo), Netherlands (Zeist), Germany (Berlin, Darmstadt, Dortmund, Dresden, Erlangen, Freiburg, Hamburg, Leipzig, Memmingen, München, Neuss, Osnabrück, Passau, Stuttgart), and Switzerland (Brunnen).
Management
Since 1987, the IAO has been managed by Grégoire Lason (MSc. Ost.) and Luc Peeters (MSc. Ost.). The management is supported by nine vice-principals, also teachers at the IAO: Peter Frassmann (MSc. Ost.), Jo Parmentier (MSc. Ost.), Marc Asche (MSc. Ost.), Johan Schelpe (MSc. Ost.), Tobias Strobl (MSc. Ost.), David Barrix (MSc. Ost.), Gunther Barty (MSc. Ost.), Lieven Rouffaer (MSc. Ost.) and Priska Wikus (MSc. Ost.).