The Visiting Professorship Program in Paediatric Urology (VIPU) reflects commitment of ESPU to the Educational activities to promote knowledge and expertise in the field of Paediatric Urology within the countries who are either a full member or associate member of the Union Europeen des Medecins Specialistes (UEMS, www.uems.be).

The objective of the programme is to provide staff members trainees and nurses with special interest in paediatric urology and working in institutions from these above mentioned countries, especially those lacking financial sources to come to the ESPU scientific meetings, with the opportunity to have interaction with opinion leaders in Paediatric Urology and who can teach updated knowledge in Paediatric Urology.

This will give those institutions the chance to form links with European leader Institutions in the area of Paediatric Urology and so help them develop the accumulation of knowledge and expertise in their region.

The VIPU program sponsored by the ESPU will allow institutions to host 2 distinguished European Paediatric Urologists (and a specialized nurse?) for a period of 4 days during which teaching, surgery and professional exchange with the faculty, research fellows, residents and other physicians at the institution will take place.

The ESPU will financially sponsor the travel expenses and the hotel costs of the ESPU delegates (2 paediatric urologists and eventually 1 nurse)

During these visits, the host institution is responsible for all local arrangements like providing accommodation and meals for the Visiting Professor as well as educational activities. The host institution is expected to arrange meeting rooms, operating room facilities with patients to be operated and clinical rounds with the attendance of a considerable number of staff and trainees. The visiting professor will be expected to interact closely with all members of the host institution including the trainees to exchange knowledge and/or to assist in the establishment of updated practices in Paediatric Urology.

The visiting professor is expected give lectures, discuss clinical cases, and if the local requirements allow this, to perform surgery on selected patients.

It is suggested that one day of the travel is dedicated to cultural or touristic events.

Practical guidelines:

1. Every institution with training facilities in Urology or Peadiatric Surgery and special interest in Paediatric Urology in a country that is full member or associate member of the UEMS can apply.
    
2. All applications must be sent to the current ESPU secretary (address available in the ESPU website). The application form must include
   
   1. A description of the host institution:
      a) Number of staff members and trainees
      b) Descriptive information about the instution like areas of interest, number of patients, surgical portfolio, weak and strong points in their clinical and training program.
      
   2. A detailed outline of the desired Professorship to include:
      a) Objectives
      b) Goal
      c) Educational format
      d) Applicable program
       
   3. A budget proposal for the local expenses including accommodation and meals to be used to cover costs
      
   4. Two different date proposals
       
3. There will be 2 application deadlines so that the applications can be reviewed at the ESPU board meeting: February 1 and October 1 of each year.
   The application must arrive the secretariat at least 6 months before the begin the VIPU period.
   Applications received after this date can not be accepted.
   All applications will be duly considered by the Board of ESPU.
   Applicants will be notified in writing, by fax and/or by e-mail of their status of application.
    
4. The visiting professors are assigned by ESPU depending upon the aims and objectives that the institution has stated in the application form.
    
5. Depending on the ESPU funds 1 or 2 VIPU travel scholarship can be awarded per year.
   2 full members of the ESPU (and 1 ESPU nurse) for each visit to a single institution.
   A round-trip APEX fare, hotel costs (excluding minibar and telephone), meal costs will be reimbursed by the ESPU treasurer.
   An honorarium of 100 €/day will be given to each visiting ESPU delegate.
    
6. The Visiting Professorship Program will not make an award to the same applicant or institutions in two consecutive years unless other suitable applicants have not applied.
    
7. Visiting Professors and host institutions will be expected to provide comprehensive reports on completion of the visits.
    
8. The ESPU board will select their delegates depending on their known teaching capacities. The same VIPU will not be able to be selected for a visit in two consecutive years to allow other candidates for selection.