City students are second to none

This item includes an obviously old photograph of Northampton Square with a caption of 'City University: graduates face increased competition for pre-reg places'. If the concerns of Specsavers and Boots prove to be justified, then students from all the optometry departments in the UK will be affected - not just those from City as the above legend seems to imply. You suggest that employers are concerned about the clinical training of students and in this respect City students enjoy a number of advantages. Their training is based upon the foundations of experience gained in more than 100 years of teaching the subject. Your readers will be aware that the university has made an investment of &\#163;5 million in its optometry department which allowed it to move last year to new premises with dedicated state-of-the-art facilities. Clinical experience is provided in the Fight for Sight Optometry Clinic located in Bath Street and its location, close to Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology will ensure that existing links with these institutions will be further developed and strengthened. Large numbers of colleagues, including pre-registration supervisors, have had first-hand experience of the very high standards of clinical education provided in a wide range of modules leading to City's MSc in optometry. In turn, many of them transfer their clinical skills to students by undertaking sessions as visiting clinicians. Their contribution in this respect is greatly valued both by the students and the full-time staff. It is entirely appropriate that employers should consider carefully the quality of training of pre-registration students and we are certain that City students are second to none in this respect. David F Edgar, Head of Department Richard M Pearson, Admissions Tutor Department of Optometry & Visual Science City University