Centurion University of Technology and Management
Vision Forward: Student-Led Eye Care Reaching the Last Mile in Rural Odisha
Finalist, Student engagement
About
Centurion University’s Vision Care Camps programme (initiated in 2023) is a structured, student-led healthcare model embedded in academic learning, delivering decentralised eye care to underserved communities across Odisha. Optometry students lead 120+ camps across 120 locations, reaching 26,841 individuals and distributing 20,246 spectacles, with ~3,000 annual referrals (~11%) for advanced care. Guided by faculty, students conduct screenings, diagnose conditions and engage directly with patients through static camps and a mobile Healthcare on Wheels unit. This immersive approach transforms students into frontline care providers, strengthening clinical skills, empathy and adaptability. By integrating service with curriculum, the programme fosters student ownership, deepens experiential learning and expands access to essential eye care. It demonstrates how meaningful student engagement can simultaneously enhance education, improve community health outcomes and deliver scalable, sustainable impact.
Top 3 learnings
- We learned students thrive as frontline providers when entrusted with real community responsibility.
- We learned community-based care builds empathy, adaptability and deeper learning than classroom training.
- We learned student-led models can expand access while strengthening skills and community trust.
Sustainable Development Goals
| 2026 | |
| Student engagement | |
| Finalist, International |
