The Charter of EACT

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF CHINESE TEACHING

Article 1: Name

            The European Association of Chinese Teaching (Association européenne de l’enseignement du chinois), registered in France in accordance with the Non-profit Association Act 1901-07-1-A5 and the 1901-8-16 Decree, is adopted and referred to as EACT (AEEC in French) or the Association.

            The Association endeavours to promote and advance the teaching of Chinese language and culture in Europe. This is to be done primarily through the provision of a Europe-wide platform for exchange and collaboration for both organisations and individuals engaged in Chinese language teaching. By involving such organisations and individuals not just within European countries, but also beyond, it allows for the relevant professional organisations and individuals to work together to achieve the common goal in continuously enhancing the quality of teaching Chinese language and culture in Europe.

Article 2: Address

  • The Association is based in Paris, France. The current official address is: INALCO, 65 rue des Grands Moulins, 75013 Paris, FRANCE
  • Relocation, if required, will be by the decision of the Council of the Association.

Article 3: Aims and Objectives

            The aims of the Association are:

  • To promote the development in and the research on the teaching of Chinese language and culture
  • To strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in Chinese teaching between countries in Europe and beyond
  • To establish close links, mutual understanding and cordial cooperation amongst Chinese language teaching professionals and researchers
  • To contribute to a multilingual and multicultural Europe and a peaceful world.

            The Association will organise a variety of events concerning the professional development of teachers and academic exchange in line with its aims and objectives. This is to help promote international collaboration in both theoretical and applied research, teaching materials development, staff exchanges and other relevant areas. The Association will publish when appropriate information and research outcomes related to Chinese language teaching, and eventually bring out a professional journal on teaching Chinese in Europe.

Article 4: Governance and Management

            The Association is governed by the Council and managed by an Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee elected and appointed by the Council is responsible for the day to day management of the Association.

4.1 The Council

            The main duties of the Council of the Association include making collective decisions on key activity planning and budgeting of the Association, as well as other major issues such as amendments of the Constitution of the Association, change of the Association’s name or relocation. Members of the Councils should have permanent residence and teach or research with regard to Chinese teaching in an education institution in Europe. The term duration of the Council members is two years. The inaugural Council members of the Association will include the founding members of the Association who shall serve a three-year term and be permanent members of the Association. Other members of the Council are:

  • council members: each national association of Chinese teaching that is an institutional member of the Association is entitled to recommend a representative to sit on the Council of the Association as council member;
  • or European countries that do not have regional or national associations, council members can be elected via nomination (including self-nomination, and by the Executive Committee) and competitive election by the voting members of the Association from the same country.

            At least two-thirds of the Council members should be professionally based in different countries in Europe.

4.2 Executive Committee

            The Executive Committee is responsible for the day to day management of the Association. The members of the Executive Committee are elected by the Council through a written ballot. The duration of the terms of office for the Executive Committee is two years.

            The Executive Committee consists of seven members, including:

  •            1 President
  •            3 Vice Presidents
  •            1 Secretary-General
  •            1 Assistant Secretary-General, and
  •            1 Treasurer

            Members of the Council or the Executive Committee can be re-elected when their terms of office come to an end, but must undergo the same election procedures as all other candidates. Members of the Council or the Executive Committee who continue to serve beyond two consecutive terms of office must be approved by the Council overseeing the relevant extra term.

            The Council should meet at least once a year, or at the request of more than a quarter of the Council members, to be convened by the President.  Resolutions adopted by any Council meetings are valid only when at least one third of the Council members are present. Resolutions are passed on the principle of majority rule. When there is tie on votes, the President’s decision is final.

            Council members who are absent from two consecutive Council meetings without giving notice or adequate reasons are regarded as voluntary withdrawal from the Council. Their office will be filled at the next Council election meeting.

Article 5: Membership

            Any European national or regional professional associations engaged in Chinese teaching and research that share the common goals of the Association and accept its Constitution can apply to join the Association. Once the application is approved by the Council of the Association, they immediately become an institutional member of the Association, and the members of these organisations automatically become individual members of the Association with full right to vote and to stand for election.

            Any other professional institutions and organisations engaged in Chinese teaching and research elsewhere in the world that accept the Constitution of the Association and wish to participate in the activities organised by the Association are also eligible to apply to join the Association as associate members. Once the application is approved by the Council of the Association, they immediately become an associate institutional member of the Association, and the members of these organisations automatically become individual associate members of the Association with the right of full benefits of the full members to attend conferences and other events organised by the Association but without the right to vote and stand for election.

            Any adult individuals engaged in Chinese teaching or research who meet the membership requirement of and subscribe to the Aims and Objectives of the Association can apply to join the Association. Once the application is approved by the Council, they immediately become individual or associate individual members of the Association. The Association has the following four types of memberships:

5.1 Full memberships are for individuals or institutional members of the Association who participate in the activities, they enjoy the same right to vote and may stand for election. All full members of the Association, both individual and institutional are required to pay the annual subscription fees of the Association. The Council of the Association decides annual subscription fees for individual and institutional members and will notify members and make public in advance the annual subscription fee level and the date by which the fees must be paid.

5.2 Associate memberships are for institutional members or individuals from outside of Europe who apply and join the Association. Associated members are required to pay the annual subscription fees of the Association. They may participate in all activities of the Association, but may not vote or stand for election

5.3 Student memberships are for current postgraduate students who identify themselves with the aims and objectives of the Association and wish to join this organisation voluntarily. They pay half of the full membership subscription fees and can participate in all activities of the Association. They may not vote or stand for election.

5.4 Sponsors memberships are for individuals and institutions that provide sponsorship or assistance to the Association. Associate membership is for one year, subscription fees are waived. They may participate in all activities of the Association, but may not vote or stand for election;

5.5 Honorary memberships are for those nominated and appointed by the Council of the Association. The terms of honorary members are determined by the Council. Subscription fees are waived and honorary members can participate in all activities of the Association. However, they may not vote or stand for election.

Article 6: Cessation of Membership

            Members may cease their membership via voluntary withdrawal; those who wish to withdraw their membership voluntarily should communicate to the Council in writing with reasons for the withdrawal.

            Membership will also cease in the event that the member pass away.

        The Council has the right to disqualify a member who is found to be in serious contravention of the aims and objectives of the Association or to refuse to exercise the obligations as a member of the Association.

Article 7: General Assembly

            The General Assembly of the Association is held once every two years. The date of the General Assembly will be proposed by the Executive Committee and the information will be sent to all the members of the Association at least six months prior to the set date of the General Assembly. The General Assembly will usually be held concurrently with a professional conference or event also organised by the Association where possible.

            The Secretary-General will inform all members of the General Assembly in writing, together with the agenda of the Assembly.

            The main agenda and business of the General Assembly shall include:

  • To approve the President’s report discussed by the Council.
  • To approve the Treasurer’s financial report reviewed by the Council
  • To elect new members for the Council which then elect and appoint members for the Executive Committee.

Article 8:  Finance

            The funding of the Association comes from the annual subscription fees of its membership, the human resources and service of its members, the support from the general public, and sponsorships from individuals, European institutions and Chinese speaking countries and regions.

          Reports on the financial transactions including budget and balance of the Association shall be prepared by the Treasurer for the Council and be presented at the General Assembly. The financial situation of each institutional member of the Association remains an internal matter of that member institution.

            Under no circumstance should any Council members of the Association accept payment or benefits for the work they do. All reimbursement claims should be made against receipts within an agreed budget.

 Article 9:  Amendments of the Articles of the Constitution

            Amendments of the Articles of the Constitution can only be possible if it is proposed by at least a quarter of the Council members and revision of the Constitution should be approved by at least more than half of the members present at the General Assembly.

Article 10: Dissolution

            The dissolution of the Association must be approved by at least two-thirds of the members present at the General Assembly and to be declared by the Council to the public.

            The Council of the Association can then decide to give its assets to another non-profit association that shares the Aims and Objectives of the Association so similar efforts can be continued.

STATUS DE L’ASSOCIATION EUROPÉENNE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT DU CHINOIS

欧洲汉语教学协会章程法文版

STATUS DE L’ASSOCIATION EUROPÉENNE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT DU CHINOIS

STATUS DE L’ASSOCIATION EUROP?ENNE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT DU CHINOIS

French version of the European Chinese Teaching Association Charter

STATUS DE L’ASSOCIATION EUROPÉENNE DE L’ENSEIGNEMENT DU CHINOIS