CHARTER OF THE ASEAN UNIVERSITY NETWORK
PREAMBLE The Fourth Meeting of ASEAN Heads of Government held in 1992 emphasized the need to hasten the development of a regional identity and solidarity, and promote human resources development by considering ways to strengthen the existing network of leading universities and institutions of higher learning in the ASEAN region with a view to ultimately establishing an ASEAN University based on this expanded network. It also declared that ASEAN Member Countries shall continue to enhance awareness of ASEAN among the people in the region through the expansion of ASEAN Studies as part of Southeast Asian Studies in the school and university curricula and the introduction of ASEAN student exchange programmes at the secondary and tertiary levels of education. ARTICLE 1 ORGANIZATION OF THE AUN There shall be established the ASEAN University Network (AUN) to be composed of the leading universities and colleges in ASEAN Member Countries, which shall be known as the Participating Universities. ARTICLE 2 OBJECTIVES The general objective of the AUN is to strengthen the existing network of cooperation among universities in ASEAN by promoting collaborative study and research programmes on the priority areas identified by ASEAN. The specific objectives are to promote cooperation and solidarity among scientists and scholars in the ASEAN Member Countries; to develop academic and professional human resources in the region; and to produce and transmit scientific and scholarly knowledge and information to achieve ASEAN goals. ARTICLE 3 STRUCTURE OF AUN The ASEAN University Network shall be composed of a Board of Trustees, Participating Universities and a Secretariat. ARTICLE 4 FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The AUN Board shall have the following functions: Formulate policies for the operation of the network; Approve proposals for projects, including budget allocation, work programmes and implementation activities; Appoint the Executive Director and staff that will compose the AUN Secretariat; Conduct periodic review and evaluation of on-going projects and activities based on the recommendations and assessment of the Executive Director; and, Perform such other functions that may be necessary to carry out the objectives of the AUN. ARTICLE 5 QUALIFICATIONS AND TERM OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees shall be composed of one representative from each of the ASEAN Member Countries, as designated by the respective governments, the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the Executive Director of the AUN, as ex-officio members. The representative of each Member Country shall preferably be the incumbent head of one of the Member Country's institutions of higher learning. The regular members of the Board shall serve a term of three years; in no case shall the regular members serve for more than two terms. The Board shall meet at least twice a year. ARTICLE 6 ROLE OF THE PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES The Participating Universities shall implement the programmes and activities of the AUN. ARTICLE 7 FUNCTIONS OF THE SECRETARIAT The Secretariat shall have the following functions: Plan and organize programmes, projects and activities of the AUN; Coordinate, monitor and evaluate programmes, projects and activities of the AUN; Propose and develop ideas, innovations or mechanisms for sourcing and generating funds for the operationalization of a self-reliant and self-sustaining AUN; and, Assess and review periodically the accomplishments of the AUN. The Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director. ARTICLE 8 QUALIFICATIONS AND TERM OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Executive Director must have an outstanding record in managing or directing international programmes and cooperation projects which are recognised in the region. He/she shall be appointed by the AUN Board for a fixed term of 4 (four) years, renewable for another term. ARTICLE 9 FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Executive Director shall have the following functions: Manage the activities of the AUN Secretariat; Coordinate and monitor the programmes of the participating universities; and, Perform such other functions which may be assigned by the Board of Trustees from time to time. He/she shall be provided with professional staff who are knowledgeable in, among others, the fields of ASEAN Studies, science and technology, higher education, economics, finance and law. ARTICLE 10 REPORTING SYSTEM AND ACCOUNTABILITY The Executive Director shall render an annual report of accomplishment of the projects and activities being coordinated and/ or implemented by the AUN to the Board of Trustees. Such report shall be furnished to appropriate ASEAN bodies and the governments of the Member Countries, including funding private institutions/individuals. ARTICLE 11 BUDGET The AUN shall have a three-year plan and an annual budget which shall be approved by the Board of Trustees. ARTICLE 12 FUND SOURCING COMMITTEE The Board of Trustees shall create a fund-sourcing Committee which shall develop fund-generating projects for the AUN. ARTICLE 13 ACCOUNT AND AUDIT The funds of the AUN shall be deposited in a reputable bank in the account of the AUN hereinafter referred to as the AUN Account. The AUN Account shall be managed by the Executive Director in accordance with the approved budget and the three-year plan. The AUN Account shall be audited by a firm of auditors selected by the Board of Trustees. ARTICLE 14 AMENDMENT The provisions of this Charter may be amended upon request of any member, which shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees through the Executive Director three months before the scheduled meeting of the Board. Any amendment to this Charter shall be made by consensus of all the members of the Board, and shall come into force upon adoption by the Board. ARTICLE 15 DISPUTES OF INTERPRETATION Any question or dispute concerning the interpretations of any provision of this Charter shall be settled by the Board of Trustees. ARTICLE 16 ENTRY INTO FORCE This Charter shall come into force upon adoption by the Ministers responsible for Higher Education of the ASEAN Member Countries.