The Vision Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research (VICTAR) was launched in Autumn 2001 and brought together the teaching and research activities of colleagues at the University in the area of vision impairment and education.  The Centre is a unique nexus of teaching and research with the following aims:

• undertaking social and educational research in the area of vision impairment;
• offering training in the area of vision impairment and education through high quality and relevant professional development programmes;
• dissemination of our work to ensure it has positive impact. 

Underlying this work is the belief that:

'Through education, through research, and through access to appropriate resources, the barriers to learning and participation that may be experienced by people with vision impairment can be better understood and reduced'. 

VICTAR has a long record of leading innovative and influential UK and international research.  Significant and recent funded research projects include: longitudinal work with young people as they leave compulsory education; national surveys and employment; development of early child development and teaching services in countries of the global south; development of reading assessments; and international literature reviews. Find out more about our research.

Our collective work was presented into a UK Research Excellence Framework (2014) impact case study. The case study was recognised as having internationally outstanding impact in terms of reach and significance which is the highest possible grade.  

Our work relies upon partnership with many stakeholders including: 

Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Thomas Pocklington Trust, Sight Savers, VIEW, NatSIP, ESRC, DfID, Nuffield Foundation, National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL).