1. Aim :
The project aims to support the action plan of the European Association of Schools of Occupational Medicine, based on the establishment of a network of correspondents throughout Europe. This will allow (i) the acquisition of information on occupational health and safety, (ii) the acquisition of information about each School of Occupational Medicine, (iii) the acquisition of information about syllabus contents of the education and training in occupational medicine, (iv) the identification of relevant institutions in Europe and throughout the world, (v) the report of relevant continuing educational programs, (vi) the access to teaching material. The network ensures a fair and efficient regional diffusion in order to serve speedily all Schools of Occupational Medicine and other relevant institutions such as WHO and ILO with regards to the different aspects of training in the field of occupational medicine.

2. Rationale :
The ongoing movement towards a closer cooperation between the countries of the European Union affects also the activity and the training of medical specialists, including the occupational physicians. According to European Union regulations, the title of "Specialist in Occupational Medicine" is presently recognized by all member states. However, within European countries appreciable differences exist about the institutions involved in educating these professionals. This entails the need to harmonise educational and training programmes and the matching of the diplomas to standard requirements. A standard or core curriculum should be adopted by all member states. It could include a basic training comparable in all countries and a specific training peculiar to each country.

3. Specific interest by institutions :
The network will be a tool to be used as a provider of information within the Schools of Occupational Medicine and other relevant institutions, enabling the exchange and the dissemination of information about educational and training programs, syllabuses, related educational material and publication. This would contribute to the effort finalized to the harmonization of approaches and methods adopted by different national programs in a European dimension.

4. Participants :

1. G. Franco, Proponent
   Cattedra di Medicina del lavoro - Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia Università di Modena, Policlinico, via del Pozzo 71, 41100 Modena
   tel.059-422692 - fax 059-270866
   e-mail: franco@unimo.it
2. T.C. Aw, Institute of Occupational Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham
3. A. Cantineau, Insitut Universitaire Santè, Travail, Environnement, Strasburg
4. Piet J. Kroon, Amsterdam School of Occupational Medicine, Amsterdam
5. R.M.C. Masschelein, Afd. Arbeids-en Verzekeringsgeneeskunde, Kath.
   Universiteit Leuven, Leuven
6. B. Nemitz, Akademie fur Arbeits-und Umweltmedizin Berlin, Berlin
7. H. Kruger, Federal Institute of Technology of Zurich, Zurich
8. J. Harrison, School of Occupational Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle