SUALL - Scottish Universities Association for Lifelong Learning
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Title: SUALL Council


The SUALL Council meets up three times a year. You can view a list of members and the agenda and minutes for past and future meetings using the menu on the left.

The SUALL Council 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 lifelong learning within Scottish higher education institutions.
  3. In furtherance of the above-mentioned object the Association shall have the following functions:
    4. i. to provide a forum for the development, exchange and dissemination of good practice on lifelong learning in higher education;
    ii. to encourage high standards in all areas of lifelong learning;
    iii. to represent the interests of the lifelong learning community within higher education and to funding authorities;
    iv. to respond to government papers and other public documents on behalf of the lifelong learning community;
    v. to facilitate communication, liaison and collaboration with other bodies and organisations in the field;
    vi. to promote and conduct research into lifelong learning 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 higher education institution. 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 lifelong learning. 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 Lifelong Learning

Lifelong Learning 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.

Keith Mackle, Hon Sec
22 December 2004

Internal Regulations and Standing Orders

1. Membership of the Association
(a) In addition to full membership of the Association as set out in Clause 4 of the Constitution, Associate Membership is open to other institutions by agreement of Council. Associate Members shall be non-voting. (
b) Non-payment of the annual subscription fee will normally result in termination of membership.

2. Co-options and Invitations
(a) Persons may be co-opted to and by the Council up to a maximum of one tenth of the voting membership of the same for an agreed period of time, but shall be non-voting.
(b) Persons may be invited by the Secretary to meetings of the Council as non-voting observers.

3. Election of Officers
(a) Elections to offices shall take place at an Annual General Meeting. Nominations from a proposer and seconder shall be made to the Secretary at least ten days before such a meeting. Those standing for election, with the exception of the Chair, shall be members of the Council. In the event of no or too few nominations being received in advance, nominations may be accepted from the floor at the Annual General Meeting.
(b) All officers shall be appointed for a period of two years, with the possibility of re-appointment for two further years. In exceptional circumstances, this may be extended.

4. Sub-committees of Council
(a) Sub-committees may be set up by the Council.
(b) The composition, responsibilities and authority of Sub-committees shall be clearly set out in terms of reference approved by Council.
(c) Each Sub-committee shall have a Convenor appointed by Council for a period of two years with the possibility of re-appointment for a further two years. In exceptional circumstances, this may be extended.
(d) Meetings of Sub-committees shall, wherever possible, be open to staff of institutions represented on the Council.
(e) Sub-committees will establish appropriate links with equivalent bodies of UALL in England, Wales and Ireland.

5. Working Groups
(a) Ad-hoc working groups may be set up by Council. They shall have a specified membership, task and lifetime which may be extended and shall be encouraged to make links with appropriate bodies.

6. Meetings
(a) The Annual General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary, and every member of Council shall be notified of the time, date and place of the meeting at least twenty-one days before the event.
(b) A special general meeting of the Council may be called by the Officers, any 10 members or one third of the membership, whichever is the lesser. All members shall be given fourteen days notice of such meeting, the notice specifying the time, date and place together on the notice of the business to be conducted. Only business on the agenda may be transacted.
(c) Council shall meet not less than twice per year.

7. Finance
(a) An account shall be kept at a member institution of the Association as determined by the Council
(b) The Secretary shall maintain a record of the Association's income and expenditure and prepare a yearly statement of account
(c) For financial and all other transactions of the Association, the year shall coincide with the University financial year, namely 1 August to 31 July.

8. Changes to Internal Regulations
(a) Amendments to the Internal Regulations shall be made only at a meeting of the Council of which prior notice of at least twenty-one days shall be given, and shall require the approval of at least two-thirds of the representatives present and voting.

Standing Orders

1. Voting
At meetings (other than special meetings) of the Council, sub-committees and working groups, decisions shall be made by a majority of votes, the Chair having a casting vote. Amendments to the Constitution and Internal Regulations shall require a two-thirds majority as set out therein.

2. Deputies
A representative of a constituent institution unable to attend a meeting of the Council may send a deputy able to speak and vote their behalf.

In the event of dispute, the following regulations will apply:

3. Motions, Amendments, etc
(a) Motions should normally be put in writing and must include the names of the proposer and seconder. Substantive motions not notified in advance may be accepted at the discretion of the Chair.
(b) If it is the Chair's opinion that an amendment to a motion substantially changes the matter covered by that motion, the amendment may be refused.
(c) Motions shall be taken in the following order:
(i) A motion for the suspension of Standing Orders (other than Standing Order number 1). In this case each member shall have the right to speak only once to the motion for suspension and a majority of three-quarters of those present (and entitled to vote) is required for the motion to be carried.
(ii) A motion that the motion be put. In this case the motion that the motion be put must immediately be put to a vote without debate.
(iii) A motion that the meeting be adjourned. The Chair must accept this motion and a debate allowed.
(iv) An amendment shall be voted on before the next amendment may be proposed.

4. Amendments to Standing Orders
(a) Amendments to Standing Orders may be made and ratified by Council.

5. Interpretation
(a) Except where an interpretation has been laid down in the Constitution or Internal Regulations the interpretation of these Standing Orders rests with the Chair.

SUALL - Scottish Universities Association for Lifelong Learning