The University of Strathclyde has revised plans to suspend some counselling courses following a campaign by staff and students.
The Glasgow-based institution stopped accepting applications to study for a certificate, a diploma or a masters in the subject late last year.
The decision meant some students would not have the opportunity to progress from a certificate to a diploma or a diploma to a masters in counselling at the university.
The University of Strathclyde’s respected postgraduate counselling courses are accredited by the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapist's (BACP) and hundreds of professional counsellors and psychotherapists have graduated since these courses began in 1992.
The university said it is developing a new joint degree in psychology and counselling “in response to demand for improved support for mental health and wellbeing”.
The move prompted an outcry from students and staff who were left in limbo and a petition calling for a rethink was signed by more than 2,000 people.
The Psychotherapists and Counsellors Union (PCU) also sent a strongly worded letter to the vice chancellor urging him to reconsider the “retrograde step”.
The university has now agreed to offer continuing education to a limited number of counselling students.
An internal email from the head of humanities and social sciences, seen by the Evening Times, said: “We recently wrote to you, outlining our intention not to run the Pg Cert Counselling Skills and Pg Diploma Counselling in 2016/17.
“Following extensive dialogue with staff and students over recent weeks and to bridge the gap between the current and revised programmes, the university has since agreed to offer a part-time delivery in 2016/17 and 2017/18, which will have 30 places.”
The memo added: “The development of the new MSc will be accelerated with a view to launching it in 2017/18. As we outlined in our previous communication, the undergraduate course will also be offered in 2017/18.”
Postgraduate student Lisa Berry, who is a spokeswoman for the campaign, said: “It is unusual for a university to reconsider a decision like this and it shows the impact the campaign has had.
“This will mean there's to be no break in qualifying counselling courses and therefore a continuation of student placement counselling provision.
“It's sad that the Pg certificate counselling course is being discontinued – it has a reputation as being one of the best - but otherwise it's much better news we were hoping for.
“A lot of gratitude is felt towards Professor Sir Jim McDonald for taking the issue seriously and for being prepared to consider the issue and make such a change in the short time it has taken.”
A spokeswoman for the University of Strathclyde said: “The university is developing a new undergraduate programme and revising its masters course to widen access to counselling education, and respond to growing demand for improved support for mental health and wellbeing nationally.
“The improvements have been informed by students, staff and the wider counselling community and have the backing of our student body.”
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