David Edgar explains a new training development for dispensing opticians involving City & Islington College and City University
A partnership between City University, its near neighbours at City & Islington College, and a wide range of optical employers has led to the development of a unique and exciting course for the training and career development of dispensing opticians. 
The result is the Foundation Degree in Ophthalmic Dispensing (FDOD), awarded by City University. Foundation degrees have been put at the heart of the Government's expansion of higher education and provide a two-year route to an undergraduate degree. Foundation degrees need to lead on to at least one recognised honours degree, thereby offering an alternative entry route to an honours degree.
The foundation degree in ophthalmic dispensing run by City University and City & Islington College has flexible modes of study, with students able to complete the course via a two-year, full-time or a three-year part-time, programme of study. Most of the teaching is carried out at City and Islington College and covers everything on the Dispensing Diploma course, but with significant City University input in the areas of clinical skills and biological sciences. Students on the FDOD are registered with both the university and the college and are able to enjoy the facilities of both teaching establishments.
A feature of the foundation degree is the active part that employers play in the development and delivery of the course. Full-time and part-time students spend a minimum of 32 days of work placement in practice, though most students will be in practice for many more days than this, especially out of the college and university term times.
This is especially true of the part-time students, who spend the majority of their time in their practice, attending the college/university for one or two days each week. During their time in practice, students are an integral part of the practice team and this allows them to demonstrate skills expected of dispensing trainees by the General Optical Council. Each student is attached to a supervisor for their work placement, who monitors the student's progress in the clinical environment.
Practice supervisors have commented on how rewarding they find the experience and many of the practices involved are now actively looking to recruit foundation degree students.
The first two cohorts on the full-time FDOD have now graduated. Most of them have gone on to join the Optometry BSc programme at City University. Others have completed a third year of full-time study to achieve a BSc Honours degree in Advanced Ophthalmic Dispensing - the UK's first honours degree programme purely in dispensing. Some graduates have completed the practical examinations of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians and have registered with the GOC as dispensing opticians. Our first part-time students graduate in June 2006 and they are able to follow any of the career options described above.
We believe that this is one of the most significant changes in training for dispensing opticians for many decades and offers greatly enhanced career opportunities that will only expand in the future.
For further information on any of these courses, please contact Lee Treneman in the School of Allied Health Sciences' admissions office (l.treneman@city.ac.uk)
Applications for the full-time FDOD are through UCAS (www.ucas.ac.uk).
Applications for the part-time FDOD are through City & Islington College (contact Clive Witcomb c.witcomb@candi.ac.uk).
Applications from registered dispensing opticians who wish to take the honours year in AOD should apply to the programme director, Professor Dave Edgar, (d.f.edgar@city.ac.uk).