SUALL - Scottish Universities Association for Lifelong Learning
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Title: Constitution


Scottish Universities Association for Lifelong Learning
Constitution
  1. The Association shall be known as the Scottish Universities Association for Lifelong Learning and will be a Council of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning.


  2. The object of the Association shall be to seek to increase democratic access to knowledge and skills and contribute to the economic and cultural life of Scotland through the promotion and advancement of continuing education within Scottish higher education institutions.


  3. 3. In furtherance of the above-mentioned object the Association shall have the following functions:
    i. to provide a forum for the development, exchange and dissemination of good practice on continuing education in higher education;
    ii. to encourage high standards in all areas of continuing education;
    iii. to represent the interests of the continuing education community within higher education and to funding authorities;
    iv. to respond to government papers and other public documents on behalf of the continuing education community;
    v. to facilitate communication, liaison and collaboration with other bodies and organisations in the field;
    vi. to promote and conduct research into continuing education and to disseminate the results of this research;
    vii. to obtain, collect and receive monies, funds and other property and to administer them in pursuance of the objects of the Association.


  4. Institutional Membership of the Association shall be open to any Scottish institution whose Principal is a member of the Universities UK or the Universities Scotland. Associate membership is open to other institutions by agreement of Council. Each Institutional Member may appoint to the Council of the Association up to three representatives, at least two of whom will normally be responsible for continuing education. Each Associate Member may appoint to the Council one representative.
  5. The Council shall be the supreme governing body of the Association and shall consist of the representatives of the institutional membership of the Association.


  6. The Officers of the Council shall be the Chair, the Vice-Chair and the Secretary. They shall be elected in the manner laid down in the Bye-Laws. The Chair need not be chosen from among the representatives appointed under Clause 4. The three officers should be from different institutions.


  7. The Council may, from time to time, delegate to its officers and to committees and sub-committees such powers as it deems appropriate. Convenors and Secretaries of Sub-committees who are not institutional representatives may attend meetings of Council.


  8. To assist it to carry out its functions, the Council shall establish and appoint such sub-committees and working groups as it may deem necessary, such bodies reporting to the Council. The membership of sub-committees and working parties need not be confined to representatives on Council, but must be approved by it.


  9. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Council and at least one other meeting per year. The Annual General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary and every member of the Council shall be notified of the time, date and place of the meeting at least twenty-one days before the event. At the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall present a report of the Association's activities of the concluding session, and a note of the expenses incurred. The Annual General Meeting will appoint or confirm the Association's office-bearers for the next session. An Annual General Meeting must be held within eighteen months of the previous such meeting. Special Meetings may be called at the request of the Officers, or 10 members or one third of the membership (whichever is the lesser).


  10. Each Institution in membership of the Association shall pay an annual subscription as agreed for each category of membership each year at the Annual General Meeting.


  11. Alterations to the constitution shall be made only at a special or Annual General Meeting of the Council and shall require the approval of at least two-thirds of the representatives present and voting.


  12. A quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be ten voting members or one third of the membership, whichever is the lesser.


  13. If the Association ceases to exist, its assets shall, on the recommendation of the Council, be transferred to an organisation with similar objectives or, if no such body is deemed to exist, to such organisation(s) as Council agrees.
Definition of CE
Continuing Education can include elements such as adult learning, training of adults, work-based learning, access and wider participation, lifelong learning and informal or community-based learning. These elements will normally be in the post-compulsory period of education and training, and will normally be aimed at increasing democratic access to the knowledge and skills which allow a fuller contribution to the economic and cultural life of the nation.

Raymond A Thomson, Hon Sec
6 March 2001
SUALL - Scottish Universities Association for Lifelong Learning