Sovs, Ucc Secures Nok 3.29 Million Norec Grant for International Eye Education Exchange Project

The collaborating international partner institutions include Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kenya; University of South-Eastern Norway (Usn), Norway; African Eye Institute Trust, South Africa and Mzuzu University, Malawi.

The EYE FX Network project is an international academic exchange initiative aimed at strengthening optometric education, clinical training, and research capacity through structured mobility of students and faculty between partner institutions in Africa and the Global North. The project is designed to enhance global competencies, promote knowledge transfer, and foster long-term institutional partnerships in eye and vision care education.

According to the project description, the initiative will focus on reciprocal academic exchanges, enabling undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic staff, and administrative personnel to participate in short- and long-term mobility programmes. These exchanges will expose participants to diverse educational systems, clinical practices, pedagogical approaches, and research environments, thereby improving training quality and professional development.

The project also seeks to strengthen curriculum development and harmonisation, particularly in optometry and vision science, by sharing best practices across institutions. Through collaborative teaching, joint supervision, and research engagement, the EYE FX Network will contribute to building sustainable capacity in eye care education, especially within the African context.

As part of the project development process, Dr. Carl Halladay Abraham, Lecturer and project contact person at SOVS, and Dr. Salina Holdbrook, Assistant Lecturer, undertook a preparatory visit to the African Eye and Vision Research Institute, South Africa, in collaboration with the project partners.

Commenting on the achievement, the Dean of SOVS, Prof. Stephen Ocansey, noted that the grant aligns strongly with the School’s strategic vision of internationalisation, capacity building, and excellence in optometric education and research. The project is expected to further position UCC as a key hub for eye and vision science training in Africa while deepening its global academic partnerships.

The NOREC-funded EYE FX Network will be implemented over the project period in close collaboration with partner institutions, with emphasis on equity, mutual benefit, and sustainability of outcomes beyond the grant lifespan.

This milestone underscores UCC’s growing footprint in international academic collaboration and its commitment to advancing eye health education to meet global and regional needs.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC