A Germany-wide vocational school teacher network meeting in the field (of) optics and optometry took place at the weekend as part of the international industry trade fair opti 2025. This event was organized at the opti NEXT GENERATION HUB by the B.Sc. Ophthalmic Optics/Optometry and M.Sc. Vision Science and Business (Optometry) degree programmes at Aalen University of Applied Sciences. The event provided a platform for an intensive exchange between the vocational schools and Aalen University of Applied Sciences and was enthusiastically moderated by Volker Meyer from Bruchköbel, an optometrist with practical experience and a very committed Part-time lecturer at Aalen University of Applied Sciences.
On Sunday morning, the vocational school teachers were presented with a colorful mix of online teaching and learning materials, including on advisor and sales techniques for spectacle lenses. This was developed by Aalen Bachelor graduate Lara Klaus in close cooperation with Heinrich Rath, a very popular Part-time lecturer among students and colleagues. Highlights of the Bachelor's and Master's programs at Aalen University of Applied Sciences were discussed by Aalen Master's graduate Torsten Dautzenberg from Aachen, who is also a highly committed Visiting Lecturer and who regularly makes the long journey to Aalen and is always interested in the sustainability of students' learning and retention of what they have learned. Lena Eberhardt, the campaign face of opti 2025, used the example of her personal background - from apprentice to Bachelor's degree in Aalen to a part-time Master's degree and 100% full-time job at the ZEISS Vision Center in Munich - to show that optics offers attractive career paths for young personalities like her and that Further Education is an important component of this. Thorsten Lindeholz informed the vocational school teachers that they can now easily access the extensive knowledge of the ZEISS e-learning platform together with their students. His colleague from ZEISS, Achim Zehnder, discussed the care of ophthalmic lenses in his talk; lecture. Last but not least, ZVA Vice-president, Deputy to the President, Kai Jaeger, gave an interesting speech on the status of the industry and answered questions from the participants.
Continuation, subsequent, follow-up of this network meeting in 2026
The positive response to the get-together shows how important the dialog between the educational institutions and partners from the industry, as well as the direct line to the guilds and the ZVA, is for the further development of the industry. "The constructive discussions and the commitment of all those involved have once again shown us how valuable this cooperation is," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Anna Nagl, head of the course of studies of the masters/master's programme in optometry at Aalen University of Applied Sciences, which is unique in the German-speaking world in collaboration, cooperation, partnership with US-American colleges of optometry. Together, they are creating a strong basis for the future of optometry and ophthalmic optics - both in vocational training and in practice; practical experience. A network meeting of this kind whets the appetite for more and could therefore be a good prelude to the next meeting with vocational school teachers at opti 2026. This further training program and network meeting will of course also incorporate ideas and further training requests from vocational school teachers. Inspiring highlights in 2026 could include the presentation of an outstanding final thesis and lectures, technical lectures from both the institution of higher education and the industry. "For our part, nothing stands in the way of a follow-up meeting at opti 2026," says Torsten Dautzenberg, Part-time lecturer and well-connected in the industry, who has fortunately already promised his support for next year. Petra Hesse from the Fachschule für Augenoptik in Munich adds: "At this opti weekend, we have set the course to network closely with Aalen University of Applied Sciences, particularly in the field (of) Further Education for vocational school teachers." The exchange with vocational school teachers will therefore definitely be continued in order to jointly develop innovative approaches and support for vocational training and practice; practical experience.
Invitation to the OPEN CAMPUS DAY on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Aalen University of Applied Sciences
Aalen University of Applied Sciences would like to thank all speakers and participants for their commitment and the successful networking of vocational school teachers and invites students and lecturers to the next OPEN CAMPUS DAY on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in Aalen. Registrations are now open with Ms. Schön (e-mail, email: beate.schoen@hs-aalen.de).
Anyone interested in a top-class two-day English-language Further Education course in the beautiful foothills of the Alps in Benediktbeuern should register with the Aalen Friends of Optometry e.V. on the website https://www.optometry-friends.com/de/alumni-meeting-2025/.
