Hirji to lecture students on successful business practice

The lecture series, first introduced at UMIST in 1998, is sponsored by Bausch & Lomb and will be based on the book Business Awareness for Optometrists written by Professor Hirji and published in 1999 by Butterworth-Heinemann. 'We are delighted about Nizar joining us here at City,' said Dave Edgar, head of the Optometry and Visual Science Department. 'He brings with him his knowledge and experience from the business world, to help us better prepare our graduates to deal with the commercial pressures of optometric practice today, and broaden their scope of education as future eye care practitioners.' Professor Hirji's lecture series to City undergraduates will include 'an overview of the business world within which optometry has to operate'. Students will be introduced to, among other topics, practice economics and finance, marketing, and personnel issues - key areas where the optometrist owner-managers face challenges in the business world. As part of their assessment process, final year optometry undergraduates will be expected to present an individual business plan for an optometric practice.