Ulster University seeks alumni for 30-year reunion

This September marks 30 years since the introduction of an optometry degree at Ulster University.

To celebrate the milestone the school will host a reunion on 27 September and is welcoming all past alumni to attend.

The one-day event will open mid-morning and feature a mixture of CPD presentations, and light-hearted talks. An evening dinner will provide alumni with the opportunity to network.

Speaking about hosting the reunion, Ulster University’s Professor Roger Anderson said: “From meeting with past students at CPD evenings, conferences, and events, it became clear there was an appetite amongst our alumni to get together and renew old friendships.

“We had initially planned a 25^th anniversary, but the pandemic meant that was paused, so we’ve decided to make it a 30^th reunion instead.”

Anderson hopes the union will provide alumni with “a fun opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Ulster Optometry programme and its graduates.”

Over the years

Ulster University’s optometry course was established in 1995, with 23 undergraduate students enrolling in the first year.

Anderson was the first academic staff member to be appointed to the optometry school. He told OT how he spent the first semester writing course materials and overseeing the building of the school’s optometry clinic.

“I look back now and wonder how I did it… it was definitely a young man’s game,” he said.

Talking about how the course has developed over the past three decades, Anderson shared with OT: “We were then the first new UK optometry programme since the GOC was established in 1958, so it had no experience of visiting or approving such a development.

“The process was a steep learning curve for everyone, but we made it. We quickly developed a strong research group within our School of Biomedical Sciences and went on to develop numerous post-graduate courses, as well as a very successful PhD programme.”

Anderson confirmed that the university has now “fully switched to an MOptom undergraduate programme” in line with the ETR. He highlighted the course was ranked as the UK’s top optometry programme by the Complete University Guide.

To learn more and register your interest for the reunion, visit the Ulster University website.

Pictured left to right is: Professor Tony Cullen (then President of the American Academy of Optometry, Roger Anderson, David Alexander (then President of the Northern Ireland Optometric Association) and Richard Wilshin (then Registrar of the GOC) at the official opening of Ulster University’s eye clinic in 1995.