Organisation: ENOTHE Charter

Introduction Charter Board Members Becoming a member Workplans Reports

(version 1st of November 2007)

Section 1. - Foundation, title, objectives, location and duration

Art. 1		The European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education is founded within the framework of the European Union by the signatories to this document, on the initiative of COTEC (Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries) with financial support of ERASMUS. This non-profit organisation will be governed by the following charter and within the applicable laws and regulations, if any, of the European Community and the Member States.
Art. 2		The title of the organisation is the "European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education".
Art. 3		Research is an integral part of higher education (Following the Bologna Process- 'Berlin communiqué', 2003,-doctoral level should be the third cycle of higher education)
Art. 4		General aim: To enable European Occupational Therapy Educational Institutes, professional Associations and other stakeholders to liaise on Occupational Therapy in order to develop, harmonise and improve standards of professional practice, education and research as well as advance the body of knowledge of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science throughout Europe. To facilitate participation of persons with disabilities in an enlarged Europe through the development of high quality occupational therapy education, research and practice. To collaborate with COTEC on the above mentioned aims. Specific objectives: To advance internationalisation in Occupational Therapy education and to exchange information about European policies and grants and joint initiatives within Occupational Therapy education. To promote the European dimension in Occupational Therapy curricula. To stimulate European standards in higher education, considering WFOT standards, European Declarations (Bologna process and Lisbon Strategy), and methods of quality assurance in order to reach mutual academic and professional recognition. To encourage the development of lifelong learning in Occupational Therapy including the development of joint education/ European programmes. To organise Conference meetings and workshops. To promote, provide assistance and/ or create possibilities for student and/ or staff exchange (especially for programmes, which are not yet in a network or are seeking links between different small networks). To provide assistance to Institutions, who wish to start Occupational Therapy education programmes (e.g. in the Central and Eastern European region) and to advise on potential resources. To facilitate collaboration in Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science research projects. To represent the members of ENOTHE in COTEC, and advance their interest, coordinate and provide consultation, through COTEC. To establish and maintain contacts and exchange information with other national and international bodies, thematic networks, client organisations, research centres, other relevant stakeholders and with European authorities.
Art. 5		The location of the administrative office of the Network shall be determined by the General Assembly. The location of the administrative office is assigned for a four-year term, which is renewable. The present administrative office is at the Amsterdam School for Health Professions, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Tafelbergweg 51, Postbus 2557, 1000 CN Amsterdam-Zuidoost, The Netherlands.
Art. 6		The Network is established for an unlimited duration.

Section 2. - Members

Art. 7		Full membership of the Network can be applied for by all Occupational Therapy programmes in Europe, who are interested in and committed to the objectives mentioned.
Art. 8		Any organisation or individual not mentioned in article 6 and committed to the objectives of ENOTHE can apply to become a contributing (organisational or individual) member.
Art. 9		All members (full and contributing) can participate in the activities organised by the Network. Normally only full members are entitled to serve on the Executive Board. Contributing members may be elected onto the board by the General Assembly but a minimum of 80% of the board must be constituted of full members. (this does not include the officer who is the link person from COTEC)
Art. 10		Membership may be terminated By letter of resignation to the Executive Board three month before the end of the calendar year Following non-payment of membership fees and one month after a written reminder by registered letter from the Executive Board By a 2/3 majority vote of those present in the General Assembly in the following circumstances: Serious or continuous infringement of the rules or regulations of the Network Activities prejudiced to the objectives of the Network

Section 3. - Organisation and responsibilities

		General Assembly
Art. 11		The General Assembly shall be the body that receives the reports of the business of the Network for approval. It shall consider how such reports adequately meet the aims and objectives of the Network.
Art. 12		The General Assembly consists of a number of representatives of each full member programme.
Art. 13		The General Assembly will meet at least every two years. Notice of the meeting and the agenda shall be sent to all members at least six weeks in advance of the General Assembly.
Art. 14		One representative of each programme holding full membership and present at the General Assembly shall be entitled to vote on all business. Resolutions are passed by a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote. In the case of a tie, the vote of the President will be decisive. Changes to the Charter shall require agreement of two thirds of those holding full membership and present at the Assembly.
Art. 15		The President and the General-secretary of the Executive Board shall be the President and the Secretary of the General Assembly.
Art. 16		The General Assembly can establish working groups to study specific problems in relation to the objectives of the Network. Expert advice may also be sought.

		Executive Board
Art. 17		The Executive Board consists of at least six members representative for the EU countries and the Central and Eastern European region. One occupational therapist is elected by COTEC. The Board shall meet at least twice a year.
Art. 18		The Executive Board shall allocate the following offices between the Board members elected by the General Assembly: President Vice-President Honorary Secretary Treasurer General member One officer as the link person from COTEC The term of office of each executive member is four years with the possibility of re-election for one further two-year term is a total of six years in office. Two members of the executive should retire from office at any one time.
Art. 19		Financial and major decisions of the Board are only valid when two signatures of members of the Executive Board are on the document in question. One signature must be from the President, or in his/her absence the General Secretary.

Section 4. - Finance

Art. 20

The resources of the Network consist primarily of:

The yearly membership fees, the amount to be determined by the General Assembly proposed by the Executive Board.
Gifts, grants and subsidies.

Section 5. - Dissolution

Art. 21

The Network can be dissolved by the decision of two-thirds of the membership. They will also decide upon the disposal of the remaining funds.

Section 6. - General disposition

Art. 22

Questions and problems not resolved by this Charter come under the regulation of the European laws for non-profit-making organisations.