Seneca College RED 2020 - 4

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Work-integrated learning placement

Strong industry partnerships

Opticianry program sets its
sights on student success

AS THE POPULATION AGES, there

is significant
demand for skilled opticians who can treat
vision difficulties. Retirement is also
creating a number of opportunities for new
professionals.
As the largest program of its kind in
Canada, and only one of two programs in
Ontario, students in Seneca's Opticianry
program are well-positioned for a successful
career. In fact, 90 per cent of graduates are
hired after graduation - a majority of them
finding employment where they completed
two rigorous 500-hour work terms.
" Before the pandemic, we had more
employers looking for students than we
had students to give them, " says professor
Tatiana Mighiu.
A major factor contributing to the quality
of the program is its excellent relationship
with industry partners. Donations of lenses
and frames, free access to professional
seminars, student scholarships and lab
sponsorships show how the industry is
willing to support our students in a big way.
Seneca's Opticianry program has
numerous success stories to share, with
some graduates designing frames exhibited
in New York trade shows and others, like
Taylor Chung, starting a chain of companies.
After completing his undergrad at Ryerson in Graphic Communications Management, Mr. Chung wasn't sure what to do
next. Despite his passion for the field, he
wasn't interested in the job opportunities
available. He wanted a career full of growth
potential, and that's exactly what he found
in the Opticianry program.
" It provided a good foundation to be able
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RED

2020

to figure out what you want to do in the
optical industry, " Mr. Chung says. " The
knowledge was there, the education was
there and the teachers were great. "
Mr. Chung's parents and sister are
optometrists. Combining opticianry with
his lessons from Ryerson in business and
entrepreneurism, he has been able to help
them with their practices and advance the
family business. In 2014, his family opened
the North American flagship KODAK Lens
Vision Centre in Ajax. They now have nine
locations across the Greater Toronto Area,
and Mr. Chung hopes to expand across
Ontario and possibly throughout Canada.
The Opticianry program is continuously
innovating to ensure students are learning
the latest information and cutting-edge
technology. They will soon be incorporating
a new module on refraction, which will
provide both new and returning students
with important skills allowing them to work
more closely with optometrists.
According to Ms. Mighiu, the strong,
foundational education the program offers
is critical for developing opticians who sell
glasses and are advocates for good vision.
" I started wearing glasses when I was
seven years old, " she says. " All my life, I
valued very good quality optics in the lenses.
It cost my parents a lot of money, but when
I put on my first pair - wow. Everything
changed. "
As industry demand increases, Seneca
will continue to be the leader in opticianry
education across Canada, with graduates
equipped to meet the vision care needs of
all Canadians.

The Opticianry program continues to meet demand
for skilled opticians and its alumni continue
to bring new ideas to the industry. Taylor
Chung, pictured bottom right, helped to launch
his family's KODAK Lens Vision Centre in
Ajax. They now have nine locations across the
GTA with plans for future expansion.

Seneca College RED 2020

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