The Erasmus+ Program of the School of Optometry and Vision Science, Led by Prof. Uri Polat

The OCULUS Project, operating under the European Union’s Erasmus Program to promote and enrich optometry curricula, began its activities this year for the first time at Bar-Ilan University and will continue for approximately three years.

This project fosters collaboration among schools of optometry in Europe (Norway, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands), together with Israel and India, with the aim of creating a unified optometry education framework in Europe. Such harmonization will enable graduates of the participating institutions to seek employment in certain European countries.

The School of Optometry and Vision Science at Bar-Ilan University places strong emphasis on excellence and on strengthening the scientific and clinical capabilities of its students. As one of the project’s goals is the promotion of evidence-based practice (EBP) in optometry—through the evaluation and critical review of scientific research in the fields of science and optometry—the scientific expertise developed at Bar-Ilan University constitutes an important component of the project. This objective aligns with the School’s ongoing mission to promote excellence and to equip students with scientific thinking and analytical skills, as well as the ability to stay up to date with the latest research even after completing their studies.