Popular Eye Opener conference prepares optometry students for the future
The event programme mixes practical career and legal advice to give attendees - predominately students in their penultimate year - the opportunity to speak to and hear from experts, with networking opportunities and social activities. This year’s lectures will cover further education, legal responsibilities and rights, and career paths. There will also be interactive workshops to help undergraduates plan for their future.
Last year’s event was endorsed by attendees with 86% saying they would recommend the conference and 83% rating it as good value for money.
The event aims to educate and inspire students about their career options and prepare them for going into practice. Practical legal advice will be given by Ella Power, the AOP’s in-house Senior Solicitor, who will explain how to avoid legal pitfalls. Commenting that new graduates should not be afraid to seek further help, she said: “All you need to remember at this stage is that if you are unsure about anything to do with your professional life - or even if a bit of your private life might impact on your professional life - we are here to help you find the answer.”
Students will also attend the popular AOP Film and Television Awards (AFTA) prize giving ceremony on Saturday evening where the best undergraduate short film, promoting optometry as a career in a fun and engaging way to 14–18 year olds, will be announced. It’s not too late for entries for this year’s awards, with the closing date on Friday 20 November.
The Student Eye Opener Conference takes place from 27-29 November and is held at Centre Parks, Sherwood Forest. Bookings will close on 25 November, so it’s not too late to attend this year’s event. For more information about the conference see the AOP website.
Ends
For more information, please contact Emily Campbell, Marketing and PR Officer, at the Association of Optometrists, [email protected] or telephone 020 7549 2040.
Notes to Editors
Association of Optometrists
The Association of Optometrists (AOP) is the leading professional membership organisation for optometrists and other optical professionals in the UK. We support our community of 16,000 plus members to fulfil their professional roles to protect the nation’s eye health. As a founding member of the Optical Confederation we work with others to improve eye health for the public good. Find more information at www.aop.org.uk
Student Eye Opener Conference
The AOP’s Student Eye Opener Conference prepares optometry students for the future. The annual event offers undergraduates from all nine UK-based university optometry departments the opportunity to network with professionals and discover their career options. The conference fee of £129 includes two nights’ accommodation, transport to and from university, career-based Q&A sessions, a lecture covering the pre-registration period, access to the conference and gala dinner as well as complimentary bike hire and entrance to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise. Priority booking is given to second-year students (and third-year Glasgow Caledonian students).