Optometry Education Conference to bring optometrists, researchers, and educators together

Optometrists, researchers, and educators involved in undergraduate and postgraduate optometry teaching and supervision have been invited to attend the inaugural Optometry Education Conference on 29 June.

The free conference will be hosted by the University of Manchester and held online.

William Holmes, senior lecturer in optometry at the University of Manchester, told OT that the conference has been launched to address the fact that there are currently no conferences dedicated specifically to optometry education.

“While optometry educators often engage with broader healthcare or vision science meetings, there has been a clear gap for a forum focused on teaching, learning, assessment, and supervision within optometry,” he added.

The conference intends to bring together educators, researchers, and optometrists in undergraduate and postgraduate education.

This will provide an opportunity to share good practice, discuss developments in optometry education, and “build a connected academic community,” Holmes said.

He continued: “Hosted by the University of Manchester and delivered online, the free conference offers an accessible opportunity for educators to exchange ideas, showcase educational research and innovation, and engage with others who share a specific interest in optometry education.”

The window for submitting abstracts has closed, and organisers hope to share a programme in the coming weeks.

Registration for the event is free and open until 19 June.