NMC approves University of Westminster as 100th education provider

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has approved the University of Westminster as its 100th approved education institution (AEI).

The regulator has also approved the university’s new nursing associate programme, bringing the total number of NMC-approved nursing and midwifery education programmes across the UK to 2,150.

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According to Professor Donna O’Boyle, acting executive director of professional practice at the NMC, the move followed a ‘rigorous quality assurance process spanning 18 months’.

She said: ‘As with all new AEIs, our education quality assurance team will provide wrap-around support to the university to ensure that its programme runs safely and effectively, offering advice and support wherever we can.’

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The NMC said the initial intake will be a small cohort, open to apprentices from local healthcare providers as well as direct entry applicants.

The programme will be delivered from the university’s Cavendish campus, where it has invested in expanded laboratory capacity, specialist teaching and research space and simulation equipment, including manikins.

Peter Bonfield, vice-chancellor and president of the University of Westminster, said: ‘Our collective vision at the university to make the world a more sustainable, healthier and better place has just moved forward another important step with the opening of our state-of-the-art facility.

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‘Through our new hands-on healthcare courses, we will instil cutting-edge technical skills, resilience and compassion in our students, who will be equipped to help disease prevention and treatment and will provide better care, both in hospitals and community settings.’