Alberta government to provide funding to MRU to explore optometry training in the province
Alberta's government has signed a letter of commitment with Mount Royal University, providing $300,000 to explore the potential of offering optometry training in the province.
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Canada currently offers only two options for students wanting to study optometry — the University of Waterloo and the Université de Montréal. Both programs are in high demand, and many students leave the country to pursue optometry studies, often not returning to Canada to practice.
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With the government's support, MRU will work with the University of Waterloo on ways to bring optometry training to Alberta.
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'This is a great opportunity for Alberta. Mount Royal University has a strong reputation for providing high-quality health-related education, and we're confident this partnership will help strengthen Alberta's ability to train the health professionals we need to support the province's growing population,' said Myles McDougall, Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education, in a Government of Alberta news release.
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The $300,000 grant will be provided over two years and support a study exploring program delivery, a financial model for the program and regulatory requirements.
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The Alberta College of Optometrists and the Alberta Association of Optometrists have also expressed interest in the partnership and will be included in the study.
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'Mount Royal University is grateful to the Government of Alberta for its support as we build on our strategic partnership with the University of Waterloo to address the increasing demand for vision care and optometry education for Albertans,' said MRU president and vice-chancellor Tim Rahilly.
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Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, Adriana LaGrange, said the province is committed to improving Albertans' access to health services. Expanding local educational opportunities provides opportunities for graduates to stay and build their careers locally, she said.
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