Director of Post Graduate Studies: Dr Eric Papas, IER & ICEE
Postgraduate research education
The training of high quality scientists who are equipped with the appropriate skills to meet the problems and challenges in eyecare will be key to the development of this discipline in Australia and worldwide. Consequently, fostering excellent Australian scientists in a range of health and scientific fields relevant to eyecare is a priority for Vision CRC. The Vision CRC postgraduate research program is designed to produce graduates who will become the new leaders in this emerging and vitally important industry.
There were 44 postgraduate research students working on Vision CRC projects this year, consisting of 39 PhD students, 4 MSc students, and 1 MPH student. Students are involved in all Vision CRC research programs. The total number of Vision CRC student completions stands at 13 (CRCERT produced 47 graduates from 1991-2003), and graduates are highly sought after in national and international research and industry.
Vision CRC provides training for overseas students, emphasising the Centre’s place as an international hub for eyecare research and education. Currently, 9 international Vision CRC students are undertaking their work in Australia. A further 9 students enrolled either in Australia or overseas are undertaking their Vision CRC research projects through partner organisations such as the International of Centre for Advancement Rural Eye Care, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India; the University of Durban-Westville, South Africa; Anglia Polytechnic, UK; University of Houston and University of Miami, USA.
Interaction
Vision CRC students work in a multidisciplinary research environment, with access to a range of related research areas and information from national and international Vision CRC participants and collaborators, including industry. The Vision CRC participants have a world-class record in postgraduate student training, and the Vision CRC has built on the excellent postgraduate management and support systems established in CRCERT. In addition, the establishment of supervisor training for new, existing and potential supervisors ensures that the quality of supervision remains high. Students working in such multidisciplinary environments are assigned a supervisory panel to ensure that they have access to the appropriate skills and resources for successful degree completion.
Student interaction with industry and the sector is a key aspect of Vision CRC training. Students are exposed to all aspects of collaborative and industrial work, including planning and review meetings, research presentations, the protection of IP, and commercialisation strategies. Students in relevant projects are given the opportunity to spend part of their candidacy in an industrial setting. Industry is also involved in the supervision and supervisory panels of students. Currently 12 of 48 supervisors are from outside the higher education sector.
Training & career development
All Vision CRC students are reviewed annually to monitor their progress and stimulate the development of skills and opportunities. The Vision CRC annual postgraduate week was held between 29th March-8th April in Sydney. Local and international students and their supervisors visited Vision CRC headquarters for the opportunity to meet other research staff and students, participate in project discussions and find out more about other areas within the CRC. This week incorporated student reviews followed by seminars and workshops such as: Do’s and Don’ts of Research; Beginners/Intermediate/Advanced Statistics; Beginners/Advanced paper writing; IP protection; Presentation skills; Endnote; Sirius and Web of Science and Applying for grants and extra research funding. Twenty-two students (including two international students by teleconference) presented their work to the postgraduate committee and to other research staff. The skill-training program was concluded by a 4-day hands-on paper writing workshop facilitated by the Vision CRC scientific writer.
Career development at all levels is a high priority for Vision CRC. At both postgraduate and postdoctoral levels, students are mentored by senior researchers. Specific training opportunities are available in research design and methodology, project management, commercialisation, scientific writing, statistics, and animal handling.
Vision CRC also continues to support a high level of student involvement in scientific conferences and collaborations as an important innovation for research training and career development, with 45 student presentations made at national and international conferences in 2004-2005. This is an important part of research training, scientific interaction, networking and career development. Publication of research is also strongly supported, and research from student projects accounted for 49% of book chapters and refereed publications and 48% of refereed abstracts in 2004-2005.
Postgraduate coursework programs
There is an enormous need in the Australian and global eyecare industry for quality education and training for a range of professionals and staff members. Indeed, continuing education is a prerequisite for ongoing professional registration in many countries, providing an opportunity for the production of targeted training packages.
CRC staff deliver education in programs offered by the UNSW School of Optometry and Vision Science through the Masters of Optometry (MOptom), Graduate Diploma in Optometry (GradDipOptom) and Graduate Certificate in Optometry (GradCertOptom). Programs include the pathophysiology of ocular diseases, advanced contact lens studies, ocular therapy and Public Health Optometry.
The distance learning modules are delivered to students through a combination of web- and paper-based media. Web resources are accessed through the School of Optometry and Vision Science home page (course information, access to library and database resources, additional course materials such as videographics) and through an interactive communication board administered remotely by course facilitators. This resource provides for interactive tutorials, discussion groups, assignment submission and grading. Study notes also contain reading materials and self-assessment tasks.
Undergraduate education
Vision CRC staff deliver undergraduate education at the UNSW School of Optometry and Vision Science and other UNSW schools. Staff members provide lectures, tutorials, laboratory and clinical teaching and workshops for undergraduates. Students in their 4th year of study can undertake their research projects through the Vision CRC, with Centre staff acting as supervisors. In 2005, the Vision CRC ran projects for 10 UNSW undergraduates.
The Vision CRC has offered international undergraduate students the opportunity to complete the practical or clinical requirements of their training or to complete a graduate diploma. Four students from the Department of Ophthalmic Optics at the University of Applied Sciences in Berlin and from Aalen University undertook these programs in 2004-2005. The Vision CRC also hosts a 12 month fellowship scheme for two outstanding students per year from the LV Prasad Eye Institute.
Academic Education participating organisations
Anglia Polytechnic University; Centre for Eye Research Australia; CSIRO Molecular Sciences; Institute for Eye Research; LV Prasad Eye Institute; University of Houston; University of Miami; University of Sydney, Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute |
