Optometry CUrriculum for Lifelong Learning through ErasmUS Erasmus Project

Project Title

Optometry CUrriculum for Lifelong Learning through ErasmUS

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Capacity Building in higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics:

Project Summary

The majority of blindness and vision impairment can be avoided by good eye and vision care and in many regions optometrists are the primary providers of this service. OCULUS is a consortium of educators from optometry schools in Europe (Norway, UK, Spain and the Netherlands) and beyond with a three-pillar strategy to reform optometric education in Israel and India and harmonise it with European standards. This will mean greater employability and job mobility for graduates, and better trained optometrists will lead to a reduction in blindness and vision impairment.In pillar 1, new educational resources will be developed to reform the curricula in Israel and India, meeting the high standards of the European Diploma in Optometry (DipE), harmonising optometric education and scope of practice. The DipE was designed almost 20 years ago and is missing elements of education that lead to lifelong learning. Therefore, pillars 2 and 3 bring innovations to optometic education, enhancing the standard even further, beyond DipE. In pillar 2, educational resources for evidence based optometric practice (EBP) will be developed. EBP is a vital part of effective patient care but is still a novel concept in optometric education, and there is a recognised need for better EBP education in optometry, making this an important addition to the DipE. In pillar 3, a personal learning network (PLN) will be created for optometry students and practitioners, as an online portfolio of patient encounters and platform for peer review and discussion. OCULUS has the support of global optometry governing and education bodies. The Israel Council of Optometry and the Association of Colleges and Schools of Optometry in India are full partners. European Academy of Optometry and Optics and the Norwegian Association of Optometry are associate partners. These organizations will ensure that OCULUS outputs are disseminated globally for maximum exploitation and impact.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 946218 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITETET I SOROST-NORGE & Country: NO

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA
• STICHTING HOGESCHOOL UTRECHT
• CITY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
• MANIPAL ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION
• CHITKARA UNIVERSITY
• ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES OF OPTOMETRY
• ISRAEL COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY