Abstract

MARTIN-HERRANZ, Raúl. Optometry university teaching: the new Optometric degree. FEM (Ed. impresa) [online]. 2017, vol.20, n.2, pp.79-85.  Epub Aug 16, 2021. ISSN 2014-9840.  https://dx.doi.org/10.33588/fem.202.877.

New Optometry programmes began to teach in 2009 in most of the Spanish universities as a result of European convergence process to harmonize university education within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Once completed the first cycle of renewal of these programmes seems appropriate to analyse major changes that this transformation has brought to these university programmes. EHEA proposes a competency-based education using a teaching methodology centered in students and their learning process, transforming qualitatively and quantitatively the Optometrists training, moving from a 3 years-diploma to a 4 years degree with 240 ECTS which allowed access to postgraduate and doctoral levels. Along with inclusion in the Spanish Law of health professions (2003), this change has probably been the most important transformation for this profession; including for the first time the description of the programme's competencies, highlight their health care character and the need to include new teaching methodologies non previously used in these programmes as external placements (now compulsory). This transformation, far from having completed, is a challenge to future improvement in programmes including adequate teaching-methodologies to health-care professions training, involving techniques such as competency-based education, research-based teaching, assess with structured by objective examination (OSCE), or others that will ensure adequate training for 21st century optometrists.

Keywords : Clinical competence; Competency-based education; European Higher Education Area; Teaching methods; Universities degree.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )