Rules of European Committee on Veterinary Education (ECOVE)

(as approved by the Executive Committee and by ECOVE, which have yet to be "blessed" by ECCVT)

1. ECOVE is a joint committee of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE).
2. The current “Principles and Process of Evaluation and Manual of Standard Operating Procedures” (= SOP – agreed upon by EAEVE and FVE) shall act as basis for the activities of ECOVE.
3. The primary tasks of ECOVE shall be
   • The general supervision of the visitation/evaluation and accreditation of veterinary establishments
   • The approval of candidate selection for the list of visitors as well as the maintenance of this list
   • The approval of the visitation/evaluation and accreditation schedule
   • The approval of the designation of both the chairperson and the members of the visiting team
   • Discussing and adopting the evaluation reports
   • Deciding the result of the visitation/evaluation and accreditation
   • Maintaining and up-dating the list of the faculties along with the outcome of the visitation/evaluation and accreditation on the EAEVE website
   • Making suggestions with a view to adjusting and improving the evaluation system
4. ECOVE shall have 7 full members who have recent experience in evaluation visits. Four members including the Chairperson are appointed by EAEVE and three by FVE.
   • The members are appointed for a two year term and may be re-appointed no more than twice.
   • The members have to come from different countries.
   • The members are remunerated by their respective organisation.
5. The Chairperson of ECOVE is the current president of EAEVE. His alternate shall be an ECOVE member representing EAEVE.
6. The Coordinator of the evaluation system joins the ECOVE meetings without the right to vote. He/she shall prepare an annual report to be presented to the general assemblies of both EAEVE and FVE.
7. The Office Manager of EAEVE is simultaneously the Office Manager of ECOVE. He/she is responsible for the invitation to the meetings, for the minutes of the meetings and for the correspondence of ECOVE.
   The agenda along with all relevant documents shall be sent to all ECOVE members no later than two weeks before the meeting.
   The draft minutes of the meetings shall be circulated within 3 weeks of the meeting and any suggestions, corrections or additions be submitted to the office manager within a further 3 weeks. The final version has to be officially approved at the next meeting.
8. Representatives of the secretariat of FVE may join the meetings without the right to vote.
9. Meetings shall be held as often as necessary.
10. The agenda for meetings is decided by the Chairperson, in liaison with the Coordinator of the evaluation system and the Office Manager. Every member can suggest items for inclusion in the agenda consistent with the role of the ECOVE. These should be sent to the office manager at least 4 weeks prior to the meeting.
11. ECOVE decisions are taken independently of external influences. Decisions concerning the result of visitations are based uniquely on the visitation report. Committee decisions should preferably be unanimous. Should a vote be necessary, each full member has one vote, with the majority of votes being definitive. The chairperson has a casting vote.
12. Where conflicts of interest arise e.g. in discussions of site visit reports with one of the members
• being a national of the country in which the establishment in question is located
• currently working ( or having worked or studied) in that country or having worked or studied at the establishment in question for a significant period of time.                                                                 If a conflict of interests occurs, the member in question must refrain from participating in the discussion of the report.
13. Both the activities and documents of ECOVE are confidential and restricted to its members and the Executive Committees of EAEVE and FVE. The exception to this rule is the minutes which are to be published in the “members only” part of the website of EAEVE.                              

ECOVE decisions shall be communicated to interested parties by the chairperson and the Office Manager.