Optometrist of the Year Award

Information Award

The International Optometrist of the Year Award (PIOA) is an award promoted by the Faculty of Optics and Optometry of Terrassa (FOOT) and funded from the ordinary budget of the FOOT Board of Trustees. It is granted annually in recognition of the academic and professional excellence of an optometrist of recognized international prestige.

The award ceremony coincides with the graduation event of the academic year at FOOT, and the awardee delivers the inaugural lecture. In addition, the awarded person becomes the mentor of the class of students who have started their studies in that same academic year.

The objective of the PIOA is to promote the optometry profession to society and provide FOOT students with role models who inspire them to excel academically today and professionally tomorrow.

 RULES OF THE INTERNATIONAL OPTOMETRIST OF THE YEAR AWARD

Download the rules of the International Optometrist of the Year Award (PDF)

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  1. Professionals or researchers are eligible without needing to apply for the PIOA. They must hold a degree in optics and optometry or an equivalent recognized university degree and must not have received the award previously.

  2. The following aspects will be considered:
  • Social and scientific impact of their professional and research activity.
  • Professional career achievements.
  • Number of publications in indexed journals over the past 5 years in the field of optics and optometry.
  • Number of participations in international conferences over the past 5 years in the field of optics and optometry.
  • Number of patents in use in the field of optics and optometry.

SELECTION PROCESS

A Scientific Committee for the Award will be formed, consisting of:

  • The Vice-Rector for Research of UPC.

  • The Dean of FOOT.

  • The head of a research group from the Department of Optics and Optometry, renewable every three years.

  • The councilor for universities of the Terrassa City Council.

  • The president of the College of Opticians-Optometrists of Catalonia (COOOC).

  • The president of the Catalan Association of Optometry and Visual Therapy (ACOTV).

  • The Vice President of the FOOT Board of Trustees or their delegate.

The evaluation of candidates will focus on the criteria detailed in section 2 of these rules.

AWARD PRIZE AND CEREMONY

The award consists of a cash prize of €1,000.00, which will be given to the awardee following the procedure established by the UPC Finance Service. Additionally, the award covers round-trip travel for the awardee and one accompanying person from their place of origin to Terrassa, as well as accommodation and breakfast for two nights for both persons.

The award also includes an additional €2,000.00 to cover expenses for attending an international optics and optometry conference for the two students with the best academic records in the class mentored by the PIOA awardee.

These expenses include travel, accommodation, breakfast for two nights, and conference registration. FOOT administration will decide which conference the benefiting students will attend.

The cash prize and all associated expenses are covered by the ordinary budget of the FOOT Board of Trustees.

During the visit to FOOT for the award ceremony, the awardee will:

  • Attend an informal meeting with the students of the class they mentor.

  • Give a scientific lecture as part of the faculty’s outreach activities.

  • Deliver a motivational speech at the graduation ceremony, where the award will be presented publicly.

The Polytechnic University of Catalonia is responsible for processing the data of participants in the PIOA. Members of the Scientific Committee will process the data solely for organizing, evaluating, and communicating the award, and it will not be kept longer than necessary.

The name of the awardee will be published for informational purposes along with a biographical profile and reasons for their selection. To exercise rights under the Data Protection Regulation or to obtain more information about data processing, please consult the UPC website.

INCOMPATIBILITIES

Persons who do not meet the conditions detailed under “Eligibility Requirements” of the rules are not eligible for the PIOA.

Receiving this award does not establish any other form of relationship between UPC and the awardee.

SCHEDULE

The Scientific Committee will decide the award in June of each academic year.

CONDITIONS

Receiving the PIOA implies full acceptance of these rules. The Scientific Committee will notify the proposed awardee in writing of all aspects described in these rules.