Professor Martin Griffin, Professor Gina Rippon, Professor James Wolffsohn and Dr Julia Brown (all LHS) visited the East Asia Institute of Management (EASB) in Singapore on 3rd September 2009.
The Optometrists & Opticians Act 2007 passed by the Singapore Government will regulate the practice of Opticianary and the Government means to upgrade the practitioners that currently exist. There are currently 1,500 registered Opticians and 500 Optometrists in Singapore. This prompted EASB to look at delivering a BSc in Optometry as a business opportunity and after seeking advice from the British Council they contacted the International Office at Aston University. The Principal Dr Andrew Chua, the Director for Collaborations Bernard Nguang and Mark Chua visited Aston University in May 2009 and the Head of Life Sciences, Theresa Cheong, visited Aston University in June 2009, these were both scoping exercises. The reciprocal visit by Aston University staff was for the purpose of discussing their specific requirements and how a partnership would work.
This visit established that EASB are interested in delivering BSc Optometry and BSc Psychology now and have an interest in delivering MSc Health Psychology and BSc Biomedical Science in the future. Aston University staff experienced exceptional hospitality from EASB and the business that was discussed was very positive. Discussions between the two parties are ongoing.
Words by Julia Brown
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