The Sector Partnership for Optical Knowledge and Education (SPOKE), a cross-sector collaboration funded by the General Optical Council (GOC), led by the College of Optometrists, and managed by a steering group comprising representatives from the College, ABDO and the Optometry Schools Council (OSC), has published the outputs of its third project.
This project – titled ‘Admissions and recruitment: state-of-the-art and plans for the future’ – considers current admissions processes, attracting the right calibre of candidates and how interest in optical careers can be increased. Data was collected through desk-based research and from university representatives coupled with sector stakeholder discussions and an online survey.
Professor Lizzy Ostler, director of education for the College of Optometrists, said: “Whilst this project set out to establish patterns in course recruitment practices, it revealed a real need for the promotion of optical careers to the next generation, to attract, develop and retain future optical professionals. Findings from this project show resounding support for employer-facilitated outreach across the sector and it is hoped that work will now be carried out to produce materials at a national level that can be deployed locally.”
Steve Brooker, GOC director of regulatory strategy, commented: “With demand for eyecare growing, the clinical roles of professionals expanding and a modernised qualifications system, this should be a great time to promote careers in optical services to the next generation. We welcome the latest SPOKE report into admissions and recruitment and look forward to working with stakeholders to consider the findings and boost interest in optical careers.”
Work is also underway on SPOKE project four on ‘Supervision guidance’. This guidance is being developed in consultation with a wide range of sector stakeholders and aims to describe the current consensus on the characteristics of good practice in supervision of clinical and experiential learning. It will be published later in the year.
The SPOKE Steering Group is currently reviewing potential topics for project five – and those who would like to feed into this can complete a short survey here.
Find out more information about SPOKE at www.spokehub.org.uk or email spokehub@college-optometrists.org