‘Game-Changer’ PSI Accreditation Awarded to AIT Applied Psychology Degree
AIT’s BSc (Hons) in Applied Psychology has been officially accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). It is the third institute of technology nationally to achieve such accreditation for an undergraduate psychology programme.
According to Dr Deirdre Walsh, programme director, accreditation “rewards the vision of senior management, confirms the breadth and depth of our programme content, recognises the calibre of lecturers, and most importantly, validates the quality of our students.”
“PSI recognition is a game-changer for the Midlands,” she explained. “Parents and career guidance counsellors can now encourage students to pursue a psychology education and career to the highest level without them having to leave the region.”
“I am really excited for what the future holds for us,” she said, adding that AIT's Department of Social Sciences was looking forward to realising the full potential of the applied nature of its programme through research activity, student work placements and through other forms of engagement with the wider community and region.
Oliver Hegarty, the head of the Department of Social Sciences, also welcomed the news, calling accreditation a “badge of honour” for the programme, for students, and his team of psychology lecturers, who conceived the idea of launching an undergraduate psychology degree as far back as 2016.
Thanking all those who played a pivotal role in helping secure the prestigious PSI accreditation, Mr Hegarty said it was time for AIT's team of high calibre psychology lecturers to enjoy their moment in the sun, “reminding us that ambitious academic dreams can become reality”.
He went on to say that witnessing AIT’s first cohort of psychology students graduate in 2022 would be “a poignant moment” and that his department looked forward to “exceeding the expectations of hundreds of future students and career guidance counsellors as we witness our graduates establish and develop flourishing careers as psychologists”.
Athlone Institute of Technology is a research-led third-level institute with an applied, industry-focused offering, world-class research and development capabilities, and state-of-the-art facilities. Winner of The Sunday Times Institute of the Year 2020 and 2018, AIT is Ireland’s top-ranked institute of technology and is on track to open its doors as the country’s third technological university on October 1, 2021. AIT tops Ireland’s official league table for research and was listed in U-Multirank’s Top 25 Performing Universities in the World for Interdisciplinary Research in 2018 and 2019. Visit www.ait.ie to learn more.