The WCO Advocacy and Leadership course, Looking Towards the Future: Optometry Program in Advocacy and Leadership (OPAL), enables future eye health leaders to use advocacy and leadership strategies to effect change at the policy and practice levels. The goals of this course are to equip the course participants with knowledge and skills to lead the profession forward through advocacy, public health initiatives, and leadership within the health care sector while at the same time supporting the WCO strategic plan.
The original advocacy course was conducted face-to-face with participants in Mozambique, Nigeria and Lebanon. In order to bring the workshop more participants, the decision was made to offer a virtual course in 2019. This 3-month course included virtual modules and required the development of a capstone project by all the participants. Many of the capstone projects have come to fruition following the successful completion of the course.
Qualities we are looking for in an OPAL applicant
- Future leader i.e., someone who currently doesn’t have extensive experience in advocacy and leadership but is committed to learning and implementing skills to further this.
- Interest in advocacy: experience in advocacy is encouraged, but not required.
- Access to course content with sufficient internet.
- Willingness and ability to comply with the timeline for complete participation in the program.
- Demonstrated involvement in WCO Country Member Organization (s) or other focus on supporting WCO’s Mission and Vision and Concept of Optometry.
- Individual Members can be accepted into the program based on the strength of their application, but we feel there needs to be a level of support beyond the individual to complete advocacy projects.
Participation Requirements
- This is a WCO Member Benefit – only those who are a member of a WCO Country Member in good standing*, employed by a WCO Affiliate Member in good standing or WCO Individual Members in good standing will be eligible to apply for OPAL.
- If you are not yet a WCO member, you can apply for Individual Membership thru this link OR check if your organization is listed as a WCO Country or Affiliate Member in good standing here.
- Kindly note that being a WCO Member does not guarantee a spot in OPAL since we have a limited number of slots available, and all applications are screened and reviewed by the OPAL Committee.
- Successful applicants are required to develop a capstone project.
- Successful applicants are required to participate in the course in English and have reliable access to the internet.
- This program is geared towards practicing optometrists, but graduate students are welcome to apply provided that you have also secured approval from your advisor/s. And if selected, participants must ensure that they can commit the time required to fully participate in the course.
Selection Process
- All valid applications will be reviewed by the OPAL Committee.
- Successful applications are chosen based on factors such as
- Strength of application including but not limited to a thorough and detailed description of stated goals, previous background work, previous advocacy experience (if any), current position.
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – WCO strives to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in each OPAL class. This includes but is not limited to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, and age.
- Note: If there’s a larger number of applications from a region, the ratio of successful applicants from that area might be higher compared to others.
- If the country the applicant represents is a priority country. Priority country is defined as a country that has not been represented within the last two years in OPAL.
- Preference may be given to applicants who are members of their country’s optometry organization, but individual members will still be accepted based on the strength of their application.
- Membership in a specific country’s organization will not be a deciding factor.
- Applicants will be informed of the results in September 2025.
Please email enquiries@worldoptometry.org if you have any questions.
Past participants have praised the course as helpful and beneficial in advocating for our profession. WCO celebrates another successful year of training the advocates and leaders of tomorrow!