(left – right) France Lim, Dato' Tony Looi, Dato’ Peter Ng, Ishan Goh, Alan Chong, Wong Gon Khiang, and Louis Chan during the launch of the UCSI Optometry Centre.

Dato’ Peter Ng launching the UCSI Optometry Centre.

(left – right) Alan Chong, Ishan Goh, Dato’ Peter Ng, Wong Gon Khiang, and Dato' Tony Looi in front of the UCSI Optometry Centre located at the KL Campus (South Wing) of UCSI University.

UCSI’s models showcasing some of the sunglasses offered at the UCSI Optometry Centre. Brands available include Chloé, Markus T and ic! Berlin.

KUALA LUMPUR: To equip its Bachelor of Optometry (Hons) students with a competitive edge, UCSI University has set up an in-house optometry store in its Kuala Lumpur Campus (South Wing). The store was launched in collaboration with Focus World Vision Care Group (FWVC Group) – a leading optical retailer. 

According to Dato’ Peter Ng, UCSI Group founder and chairman, the launch was in line with the University’s Praxis® approach that focuses on merging industry expectations with academia. The UCSI Optometry Centre serves as one of UCSI’s many Praxis® Centres – in house business entities – where students gain hands-on working experience and apply classroom knowledge. 

This hands-on approach is something that Dr Lili Asma Binti Ismail, Assistant Professor of the UCSI School of Optometry, feels will prepare students for their careers. 

“By bringing in this business associate to the University and have them working collaboratively with the School, it provides students a glimpse of the working world,” she said. 

She added that the members of the public would also benefit from the services offered, as the lecturers will provide their expertise at the UCSI Optometry Centre and share the latest updates on optometry with the optometrists working there. 

The FWVC Group’s Managing Director, Alan Chong and Ishan Goh, the Finance Director were also present during the launch. 

“In the retail business, we are always looking forward to expand and to stand out not just in numbers, but also in quality. A collaboration such as this is definitely a good opportunity for us,” said Goh. 

She added that the collaboration also sets FWVC Group apart as it extends its professional services into the field of education by providing students with a professional work environment as well as cutting-edge equipment in the Centre that are not available yet in the local market. 

The UCSI Optometry Centre is opened to the public and UCSI University staff and students will enjoy additional benefits.