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About ESAVS:
Targeting Excellence in Postgraduate Clinical Education

Origins and Aims

ESAVS, the European School for Advanced Veterinary Studies, was founded in 1991 by veterinarians Dr. Pierre Cadot, Dr. Hans Koch and Prof. Dr. Marc Vandevelde as a pilot project of Comett II, an EU initiative to promote the development of highly qualified human resources in Europe. ESAVS is a non-profit post-university school and not a common CE provider. However, all ESAVS study programs and courses can also be connected individually for further training purposes.
All three founders were also founding members of the EAVS, the “European Association for Veterinary Specialization.” The goal of this association was to initiate and develop a European specialization system similar to the American specialist college system.

ESAVS was their “brainchild” in support of the development of European specialist colleges by opening a showcase to veterinary practitioners to the high level of knowledge and skills of American and European colleges. The majority of veterinary practitioners may have little experience in this regard. The ESAVS education serves also to encourage its participants to go further by applying for residencies to achieve a true diplomate specialist level in the discipline of their choice.

ESAVS education is open to any clinician willing to learn, in which the expected professional life should be better, richer and fuller, with opportunities for all, regardless of country of origin and wealth, depending only on ability or merit. Since its foundation, ESAVS has become a globally recognized institution in postgraduate veterinary education, providing world-class clinical education and training programs to veterinarians worldwide. As a school, ESAVS offers structured programs of study that go beyond individual courses of knowledge to provide a clear pathway for professional development at the highest level.

With a focus on clinical excellence, its programs are designed to enhance veterinarians’ knowledge and skills through hands-on training, case-based learning and expert teaching. Utilizing universities and specialized facilities across Europe and in many Asian countries, ESAVS offers a unique education led by internationally renowned faculty of leading experts. Veterinarians can take individual courses and/or enroll in complete study programs leading, if desired, to ESAVS certificates of higher education and master degrees.

As a highly respected institution in postgraduate veterinary education, ESAVS continues to shape the future of the profession, providing veterinarians with the skills and knowledge to advance their careers and improve patient care. A ministerial decree of the Minister for Education, Children and Youth of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, dated 1 September 2023, authorizes the ESAVS as a provider of continuing vocational training courses.

What is ESAVS Asia?

ESAVS Asia is in continuation of the ESAVS, which was founded in 1989 within the framework of the EAVS ASBL, the European Association for Veterinary Specialization.

The first ESAVS onsite course for veterinarians in Asia was organized in 2005 in Shanghai, China. ESAVS Asia stayed under the umbrella of EAVS ASBL. Similar to the beginning of ESAVS in Europe, ESAVS Asia supports veterinary professional development of veterinarians and veterinary specialization.

In several relevant Asian countries, ESAVS Asia has gained an excellent reputation as a pioneer and leading Postgraduate School in Clinical Veterinary Medicine.


ESAVS training programmes and intensive courses include lectures, discussions, demonstrations, case presentations and laboratory work. In order to permit a high level of training efficiency, the number of participants per course is limited. Daily tuition includes new scientific information and practical exercises in small groups. Each course is supervised by course leaders (tutors) who are experienced experts with a high reputation. The teaching language is English. Courses in China are held with consecutive translation to Chinese.

ESAVS is a non-profit organization registered in Luxembourg(A.S.B.L.), R.C.S. Luxembourg F10892. → ESAVS Europe Board Members

ESAVS Office for Asia is a nonprofit organization under the umbrella of the European Association of Veterinary Specialization (EAVS), registered in Luxemburg (A.S.B.L., reg Nr vol 411 fol case 4), R.C.S. Luxembourg F4152.

EAVS Board Members

Dr. Hans Joachim Koch EAVS Board Member

Dr. Dr. Hans-Joachim Koch

  • Dr. Dr.h.c. DECVD
  • Birkenfeld, Germany
Dr. Pierre Cadot EAVS Board Member

Dr. Pierre Cadot

  • Paris, France
Prof. Marc Vandevelde EAVS Board Member

Prof. Dr. Marc Vandevelde

  • Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. DECVN

  • Berne, Switzerland

ESAVS Office for Asia Organising Structure

Executive Committee Members:

Dr. Dr. Hans Koch (Small Animal Veterinary Hospital Birkenfeld, Germany), Ms Xu Jie (Shanghai, China), Prof. Dr. Xia Zhao Fei (China Agricultural University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Beijing, China), Adjoint committee member: Dr. Federico Porporato (Istituto Veterinario Novara, Italy)

ESAVS Office for Asia Local Organisers:

Ms Xu Jie (Shanghai, China), Dr. Chaiyot Tanrattana (Bangkok, Thailand), Drh. Siti Komariah (Jakarta, Indonesia), Dr. Anisha Tiwari (Jammu, India)

Senior Advisor:

Prof. Dr. David Lloyd (Hatfield, UK)

ESAVS Office for Asia Organising Team:

Chief Administrative and Operations Officer for Asia: Katja Bergmann
Asia Project Manager: Ms. Anuja Shedbale
Event Coordination: Ms. Zhe Du
IEVS: Mrs. Aysha Arkya
Bookkeeping: Mrs. Julianna Frangos-Gross 
Personal Assistance Dr. Koch: Mrs. Sabien van der Velde