DC's Improbable Science

Truth, falsehood and evidence: investigations of dubious and dishonest science

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Entries Tagged as 'Malcolm McVicar'

What actually gets taught on a homeopathy course: part 1

January 6th, 2010 · 43 Comments

Jump to follow-up The purpose of this post is to reveal a few samples of things that are taught on a homeopathy ‘degree’ course. The course in question was the "BSc Hons homeopathy course at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). Entry to this course was closed in 2008 and, after an internal review, UCLAN [...]

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Tags: Academia · CAM · Cancer act · Central Lancashire · Freedom of Information Act · Malcolm McVicar · Quality assessment · Society of Homeopaths · Unfair Trading · Universities · University of Central Lancashire · cancer · homeopathy · vice-chancellors

Information tribunal rejects appeal by University of Central Lancashire. Freedom of Information wins!

December 8th, 2009 · 48 Comments

A momentous decision was promulgated (as lawyers say) by the Information Tribunal on December 8th 2009.  It marks a step forward in Freedom of Information about how universities spend your money. It has taken 3.5 years to get to this point. Perhaps now there will be an end to the attempts of every single university [...]

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Tags: Academia · Anti-science · CAM · Central Lancashire · Freedom of Information Act · Malcolm McVicar · Quality assessment · UCLAN · University of Central Lancashire · antiscience · badscience · homeopathy · management bollocks · vice-chancellors

Not much Freedom of Information at University of Wales, University of Kingston, Robert Gordon University or Napier University

October 20th, 2009 · 36 Comments

It seems very reasonable to suggest that taxpayers have an interest in knowing what is taught in universities.  The recent Pittilo report suggested that degrees should be mandatory in Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. So it seems natural to ask to see what is actually taught in these degrees, so one can judge whether [...]

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Tags: Academia · CAM · Central Lancashire · Chinese medicine · Edinburgh Napier University · Education · Freedom of Information Act · Malcolm McVicar · Marc Clement · Michael Pittilo · Northern College of Acupuncture · Public relations · Quality assessment · Robert Gordon's university · Traditional Chinese medicine · Universities · University of Central Lancashire · University of Kingston · University of Salford · University of Westminster · Westminster university · acupuncture · antiscience · business · evidence · herbal medicine · herbalism · homeopathy · management bollocks · managerialism

University of Central Lancashire stops its alternative medicine degrees (or does it?). Yes, it does!

July 16th, 2009 · 27 Comments

Jump to follow-up .The University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) is the first place I asked to see teaching materials that were used on its homeopathy “BSc” course. The request was refused, and subsequent internal appeals were refused too, Clearly UCLAN had something to hide. An appeal to the information commissioner took almost two years to [...]

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Tags: Academia · CAM · Central Lancashire · Chinese medicine · Dangerous advice · Department of Health · Freedom of Information Act · Health Professions Council · Malcolm McVicar · Traditional Chinese medicine · Uncategorized · Universities · acupuncture · blogosphere · herbal medicine · herbalism

Information commissioner rules that university must release teaching materials

April 16th, 2009 · 21 Comments

On 24 July 2006, I sent a request to the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), under the Freedom of Information Act  (2000)   I asked to see the teaching materials that were used on their BSc Homeopathy course.  The request was refused, citing the exemption under section 43(2) of the Act (Commercial Interests).  Two internal reviews [...]

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Tags: Academia · Anti-science · CAM · Freedom of Information Act · Kate Chatfield · Malcolm McVicar · UCLAN · University of Central Lancashire · homeopathy · vice-chancellors

University announces review of woo

September 4th, 2008 · 14 Comments

Jump to follow-up After the announcement that the University of Central Lancashire (Uclan) was suspending its homeopathy “BSc” course, it seems that their vice chancellor has listened to the pressure, both internal and external, to stop bringing his university into disrepute. An internal review of all their courses in alternative medicine was announced shortly after [...]

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Tags: Academia · Anti-science · CAM · Central Lancashire · Dangerous advice · HR bollocks · Kate Chatfield · Malcolm McVicar · Patrick McGhee · Robert Gordon's university · Traditional Chinese medicine · UCLAN · Uncategorized · Universities · acupuncture · antiscience · badscience · conflict of interest · evidence · herbalism · homeopathy · science · statistics

The Times, the Pittilo report (and damned sub-editors)

August 29th, 2008 · 18 Comments

Jump to follow-up The Times today has given s good showing for my comment piece. It gives the case against following the advice of the Pittilo report. It simply makes no sense to have government regulation of acupuncture, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine until such time as there is evidence that they work. It makes [...]

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Tags: Academia · Anti-science · CAM · Central Lancashire · Department of Health · HRH · Malcolm McVicar · Pittilo · Prince Charles · Prince of Wales · Prince's Foundation · Robert Gordon's university · TCM · Traditional Chinese medicine · Uncategorized · Universities · acupuncture · antiscience · herbalism · managerialism · regulation

University abandons homeopathy “degree”

August 27th, 2008 · 72 Comments

Jump to follow-up The first major victory in the battle for the integrity of universities seems to have been won. This email was sent by Kate Chatfield who is module leader for the “BSc” in homeopathic medicine at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). from Kate Chatfield… Dear All, It’s a sad day for us [...]

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Tags: Anti-science · CAM · Central Lancashire · Dangerous advice · Freedom of Information Act · HR bollocks · Kate Chatfield · Malcolm McVicar · Patrick McGhee · Quality assessment · TCM · Traditional Chinese medicine · UCLAN · Universities · acupuncture · antiscience · badscience · herbalism · homeopathy