Home Page About Us Activities Publications Resources
 

Contact EURACT

E-mail

Phone
(32) 16 33 74 64

FAX
(32) 16 33 74 80
EURACT Council Member - Job Description  Library Documents

At its meeting in Tartu in July 1996 the Council of EURACT, the European Academy of Teachers in General Practice decided to clarify the role and responsibilities of council members, so that all had a clear idea of their functions within the organisation. It would also be helpful to newly elected council members to have this information available.

Council members should :

    1. Regularly attend and participate in Council meetings
    2. Represent the interests of their national members
    3. Promote the interests of EURACT in their own country and recruit members and teaching organisations
    4. Communicate with national members, keeping them informed of EURACT activities.
    5. Act as contact person for teaching resources in Europe developing and maintaining a network
    6. Act as treasurer for national members
    7. Inform national colleges, universities or societies about EURACT
    8. Have a personal involvement in learning and teaching
    9. Participate in the work of Task Forces
    10. Be prepared to act as host for council/general meetings

Other features that Council members felt were important were that individuals should be prepared to work for a minimum of 3 years, to carry out the tasks that they have agreed to undertake, to read documents and prepare themselves for meetings, and to answer correspondence and faxes promptly! Finally they should not abuse their council colleagues with trivial questionnaires!

In return for this long list of duties there are some benefits derived from being a council member. These include the opportunity to travel to other European countries, and the pleasures of meeting colleagues, and gaining motivation from sharing ideas formally and informally. There is status and recognition in one's own country from being a council member, which may facilitate the development of the discipline of general practice/family medicine. There is also the opportunity to participate in international research and debate, and to build up a personal network of European resources and contacts in general practice teaching.

In order to carry out the functions of Council member there are support needs. These are:

    1. access to office equipment, including fax, and preferably E-mail
    2. support with office supplies, postage etc.
    3. secretarial assistance
    4. supportive colleagues
    5. financial support for travel and subsistence

These support needs are not inconsiderable - at present they are often met by national colleges, or associations, or by Universities. If EURACT is to develop further as the education satellite
of the European Society, then these support needs must be safeguarded, or alternative sources of support identified if the organisation is to continue to flourish.


These ideas can be drawn together as a person specification. To be a successful EURACT Council Member a person should have the following attributes:

1) Should be a nationally respected GP teacher/trainer

2) Should enjoy academic recognition and/or qualification - this does not necessarily mean a formal higher qualification, nor an appointment as professor for example. It should mean that the individual commands the support and respect of academic general practitioners, and has sufficient status as a teacher to exert influence.

3) Should have contributed to the national and /or international general practice literature.

4) Should be able to inform and influence national colleges and associations of general practitioners.

5) Should be able to command the support of national members.

6) Should be self-aware, understand the tasks and responsibilities being asked, and be able to be self-supporting in this role.

7) Should be reasonably fluent in spoken and written English.
 
Top of page