L V Prasad EyE InstItutE is a comprehensive eye health facility located in Hyderabad, India. Founded in October 1986 by eminent ophthalmologist dr Gullapalli n rao, the Institute has evolved into a world class organization, with six main areas of focus: comprehensive patient care, clinical research, sight enhancement and rehabilitation, community eye health, education, and product development.

From the beginning the focus has been on extending equitable and efficient eye care to the underprivileged. the Institute’s charter aims at providing 50 percent of its surgical services free of cost to the economically disadvantaged. In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IaPB), LVPEI has designed and implemented many innovative community eye health programs. Each day, 200 people who cannot afford eye care, receive care from some of the best eye health professionals, while hundreds more benefit from LVPEI’s rural affiliates and satellite clinics in urban slums.

the cornerstone of progress in medical science is research and LVPEI collaborates with premier institutions globally in this area. the research program takes pride in putting cutting edge technology, like stem cell transplantation, to clinical application. LVPEI’s research team has developed innovative applications of lasers to treat corneal and retinal diseases, while evolving unconventional approaches to glaucoma treatment and conducting frontline research into the molecular genetic basis of eye diseases.

tHE unIVErsIty OF nEW sOutH WaLEs (unsW) is a major force in australian tertiary education and occupies a premier position in the asia-Pacific region as a dynamic source of innovative teaching and research. unsW, australia’s leading international university, works closely with industry, business and public research bodies nationally and internationally to ensure programs are relevant to today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world.

The UniversiTy of new soUTh wales school of Optometry and Vision science

l v Prasad eye insTiTUTe Hyderabad, andhra Pradesh, India

Master of Community Eye Health Graduate diploma in Community Eye Health

a new Master of Community Eye Health and Graduate diploma in Community Eye Health will be offered by the university of new south Wales (unsW) in collaboration with LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), Hyderabad, India from January 2009.

the purpose of the new Master and Graduate diploma in Community Eye Health is to produce eye health professionals who are innovative leaders with an understanding of the principles of community eye health and their applications. the Master’s program aims to develop analytical, communication and other higher skills beyond the level of the Graduate diploma.

PrOGraM struCturE

the Master’s includes a research project. the research project has been designed to develop further skills in a range of areas including critical thinking, planning and communication. thus, in terms of learning outcomes, it is anticipated that both the Master’s and the Graduate diploma will produce eye health professionals who have an understanding of the principles of community eye health and their applications. the analytical, communication and other higher level skills will be further developed in the Master’s program than in the Graduate diploma.

In addition to a number of core courses spanning the spectrum of disciplines that inform community eye health practice, the Master’s includes a research project . the research project will involve the Master’s students in independent and collaborative work, and will require them to take a large element of responsibility. the research project provides an opportunity for a student to develop skills and attributes that are important as part of a Master’s level program, and will be expected in those people graduating from the proposed program.

unsW was established by an act of the Parliament of new south Wales in 1949. teaching and research are core activities of unsW and, should you decide to study for your degree with us, you will be joining a university which is:

n Committed to providing excellent service and facilities for international studies

n ranked 44th in the world in the 2007 times Higher Education report of World university rankings

n a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (G08) leading teaching and research universities in australia

n a member of universitas 21, a consortium of the world’s leading research universities from asia, Europe and north america and consistently ranked in the top 50 universities in the world

n a major recipient of competitive research grants from industry and government bodies such as the australian research Council

n ranked in the top band of australian universities by the australian Government’s Committee for Quality assurance in Higher Education

n Continually striving to cultivate global alliances to enhance the quality of the educational experience of students and staff

n Proud to contribute to australia and the region through research and scholarship

n determined to strengthen unsW’s position as a leading international university with world-renowned academics and world-class facilities.

Our international students come from more than 120 countries and unsW welcomes their contribution to academic and social life at unsW.

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at the end of the project, the students will be required, as part of their assessment, to present their findings to an audience consisting of faculty, fellow students, and invited members of the community eye health professions. the presentation will be an opportunity for the students to showcase their skills and to demonstrate their level of thinking to an audience that includes people who are currently in roles to which the students aspire.

the learning and teaching will also include an element of didactic teaching. assessment methods include group work, practical assignments, short presentations, and critical review of published articles, independent and collaborative work, communication, critical thinking and other skills throughout courses as well as the research project.

the International Centre of advancement in rural Eyecare (ICarE)/ LVPEI model for community eye care is firmly established and highly successful in the state of andhra Pradesh, and elsewhere in India. the model includes primary, secondary and tertiary eye care centres, providing access to excellent eye care facilities for people living in both urban and remote rural locations.

Important components of this model include the eye care professionals, managers, community health workers and others who develop and administer rural eye care programs. their roles call for interpersonal, communication and other generic skills, but also for more targeted capabilities in areas such as the assessment of eye health needs, the planning of eye care programs, and an understanding of epidemiology related to eye health.

the Master’s in Community Eye Health has been developed to address a need for the acquisition and development of these skills and capabilities, in an environment that combines excellence in the key areas of eye health care, community eye health research, and management of community eye health programs.

COursEWOrK COMPOnEnt

Program description

the Master of Community Eye Health offers specialised training in a range of areas, including the following aspects of the community eye health field: needs assessment, health economics, epidemiology, advocacy, and the “Vision 2020: the right to sight” global initiative. the program is conducted mainly at the ICarE, part of the LVPEI, Hyderabad, India. the

PrOGraM suMMary taBLE

aWard (COdE)MInIMuM

Entry rEQuIrEMEnts

PrOGraM duratIOn (FuLL tIME)/ tOtaL unIts OF

CrEdIt (uOC)

EstIMatEd annuaL tuItIOn FEE FOr 2009 (a$) *

M Community Eye Health (8761)

a degree equivalent to an australian Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years’ appropriate work experience in the area of community eye health

1 year

48 uOC$23,280

Grad dip Community Eye Health (5666)

at least 3 years’ appropriate experience in the area of community eye health.

0.8 year or part time equivalent

36 uOC$17,460

application deadlines: Please contact LV Prasad Eye Institute for further information on application deadlines.

*The annual tuition feeds listed in this column serve as a guide only. They reflect the feeds likely for a student undertaking a program prescribed full-time study load in 2009.

program comprises 48 units of credit, 36 of which are gained by successful completion of six compulsory courses. 12 units of credit are gained by completion of a research project which may be conducted at ICarE, LVPEI, or the university of new south Wales, or at the candidate’s home location (if appropriate supervision is available at that location). In all cases, joint supervision will be arranged between academic staff of the LVPEI and the university of new south Wales.

Program structure

no elective courses are offered as part of this program, and the following courses are compulsory:

OPtM7001 Introduction to Community Eye Health (6uC)

OPtM7002 Community Eye Health needs assessment (6uC)

OPtM7003 Epidemiology of Blinding Eye diseases (6uC)

OPtM7004advocacy and Education in Community Eye Health (6uC)

OPtM7005 Eye Health Economics and sustainability (6uC)

OPtM7006 Eye Care Program Management (6uC)

OPtM7308 research Project (12uC)

rEsEarCH COMPOnEnt

the assignment, which is part of the Master’s program only, will involve the student investigating a research question which may be related to basic science, management or other areas in community eye health. the research will be conducted under direct supervision of a member of academic staff or suitably qualified personnel at LVPEI, in some cases with co-supervision by academic staff or suitably qualified personnel at the school.

It is anticipated that most research projects will take place at LVPEI. some students may wish to conduct research at the unsW school of Optometry and Vision science, and this is possible under co-supervision. some students may wish to conduct research at a location away from LVPEI or the school of Optometry and Vision science, and this will be possible only if appropriate supervision and facilities are available at that location.

L V Prasad Eye Institute offers a variety of learning opportunities for those interested in making a career in public health at the service delivery or policy level. LVPEI’s network spans advanced tertiary level care to community level primary eye care, a veritable ‘living laboratory’ that is ideal for gaining hands on skills in developing and managing eye care projects.

Candidates with a degree equivalent to an australian Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline may apply for direct entry into the Master of Community Eye Health.

Candidates without a Bachelors degree but with 3 years’ relevant work experience will be eligible to apply for entry to the Graduate diploma of Community Eye Health, and on achievement of at least a Credit average (65%) may apply for transfer to the Master’s of Community Eye Health.

CarEEr OPtIOns

the Master and Graduate diploma in Community Eye Health is aimed at eye care workers across the service delivery chain who work at the community level or in policy, research and planning related to eye health. the Master and Graduate diploma offers these categories of professionals an opportunity to acquire higher-order research, analytical and planning skills that will allow them to move into leadership positions in their organizations or in the broader public health system.

Gaining a Master in Community Eye Health will equip the eye health worker with the skills and knowledge required to assess the need for, plan, implement and monitor a community level project.

FOr MOrE InFOrMatIOn and aPPLICatIOn PrOCEdurEs

Unsw inTernaTional offiCethe university of new south Wales sydnEy nsW 2052 austraLIa

telephone 61 2 9385 6996 Facsimilie 61 2 9313 7382Email internationaloffice@unsw.edu.au Website www.international.unsw.edu.au

lv Prasad insTiTUTeContact Person rohit Khanna/srinivas Marmamulatelephone direct +91 40 30615601 Facsimile +91 40 24011293Email rohit@lvpei.org Email srioptom@lvpei.org

Unsw sChool of oPToMeTry and vision sCienCeContact Person dr Catherine suttletelephone 61 2 9385 4380 Facsimile 61 2 9313 6243Email c.suttle@unsw.edu.au Website www.optom.unsw.edu.au