Alliance of China-Thailand Universities (ACTU) Bylaws

Adopted by ACTU Assembly on October 20, 2020

Chapter I: Organization

The name of the organization shall be the Alliance of China-Thailand Universities (ACTU). The permanent office of ACTU is located on 19^th Floor, Tower A, Haojing Plaza, 108 Zhichun Road，Haidian District, Beijing, China.

Chapter II: Purpose

2.1 The Alliance of China-Thailand Universities (ACTU) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit, non-legal-entity network association established under the China-ASEAN Education Co-operation Week (2019) for the purpose of enhancing China-Thailand University co-operation and exchange.

2.2 ACTU’s core purposes are to:

  Promote the spirit of peaceful friendship, openness & containment, learning from each other, and exchange and co-operation.

  Establish a platform for China-Thailand higher education institutions, and encourage institutional exchange and co-operation in teaching and research, cultural exchange, policy study, and education services;

  Serve the training and development of high-quality human resources with multi-lingual, and cross-discipline abilities and an international vision and competence.  

  Enhance the understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and Thailand, and contribute to the prosperous development of both countries.

Chapter III: Membership，Rights and Dues

3.1 There shall be three categories of dues-paying members:

  University Members (UM), which are higher educational institutions, both academic and vocational, approved by Chinese or Thai government; Each UM has full voting rights through one delegate, and the rights to be elected officers;

  Non-university Members (NUM): Institutions other than with approved university status, involved in international education, can be an institutional member, subject to approval by the Board; NUM members do not have voting rights and rights to be elected officers of this organization;

  Individual Members (IM), individuals involved in international education, but unaffiliated with Academic Institutions or Supporting Organizations can apply and become Individual member, subject to approval by the Board; IM members do not have voting rights and rights to be elected officers of this organization;

The Chinese member can call itself LISHI  in its outside dealings.

3.1.1 Rights

  Participate in ACTU’s events and activities;

  Enjoy privileged access to projects and services provided by ACTU;

  Exercise the rights in criticisms, advices and supervision of ACTU’s work;

  Join voluntarily and withdraw freely.

3.1.2 Responsibilities

  Carry out all ACTU’s resolutions;

  Maintain the reputation and legal rights of ACTU and never engage in any action against the best interests of ACTU whether by using its name, nor irrelevant to its purpose and mission;

  Accomplish the task assigned by ACTU’s Board of Directors;

  Report to the Board regularly about activities and outputs of collaboration with other member institutions.

3.2 East & West International Education Group (Shanghai Dong Xi Wan Fang Education & Science Inc. ), as a founding member of this organization, has the voting right and right to be elected officers in this organization.

3.3 Dues: The Board shall determine the annual dues that shall be paid by each Member in each membership categories and, if created, sub-categories. Dues shall be payable at a time and in the manner as the Board shall prescribe. All members must be current in their membership dues to maintain their voting status.

3.4 UM Members will start paying membership dues in 2021.

3.5 Procedure for Admission:  The Board shall adopt policies, procedures, and forms governing the member admission process for each membership categories, including procedures for the election or approval of members in each membership categories.

3.6 Retention of Membership: Members of ACTU, in order to retain their membership, shall: A) Conform to and comply with these bylaws and b) pay prescribed dues and other sums in a timely manner. The Board shall adopt policies and procedures governing the sanctioning or revocation of membership in each membership categories, subject to the requirements of the following provision.

3.7 Termination of Membership: The Board, at its sole discretion, may terminate a member’s membership if determines that such membership would not be or is no longer in the best interests of ACTU. Termination of membership of voting members requires an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of all members of the full Board eligible to vote.

3.8 Reinstatement of Membership: A former member may be reinstated to membership upon such terms as the Board may designate and an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of all members of the full Board eligible to vote.

Chapter IV: Organizational Structure of ACTU

4.1 General Assembly

4.1.1 The General Assembly consists of all ACTU members. It is the supreme authority of ACTU exercising the following duties:

  Adoption on changes to the Bylaws of ACTU;

  Resolve on ACTU’s development prospects and plans;

  Electing and recalling ACTU Board Members;

  Reviewing ACTU Board reports and financial accounts;

  Deciding on other major issues of ACTU.

4.1.2 The term of the General Assembly is 3 years and meets once in its course of operation. Under certain circumstances that requires the General Assembly to meet prior to or after the scheduled ending of the term, or in the case that an urgent meeting is proposed, such meeting should be decided by a majority vote of the Board members eligible to vote.

4.2 Board of Directors

4.2.1 Powers and Duties: The Board shall govern the business and affairs of the organization and shall report to the General Assembly. It is elected by vote of the General Assembly, and the term of office is three (3) years.

4.2.2 Composition: The Board is comprised of the following voting members:

  Co-Chairs (1 from China and Thailand respectively);

  Vice Chairs (3 from China and Thailand respectively);

  Treasurer;

  Directors (10-15 from each country)

4.2.3 The Co-Chairs and Vice Chairs should be elected from Chinese and Thai universities respectively, and shall serve a term of three (3) years.

4.2.4 All members at the Board must be in good standing at the time of the election.

4.2.5 Election: Board members shall be elected by the Members of ACTU via a secret electronic ballot at a time to be set annually by the Board prior to the ACTU Annual Assembly. Each member organization in good standing shall designate one representative as its voting delegate. A plurality of those voting will be required for election.

4.2.6 The candidates of the First Board shall be nominated by ACTU organizing committee.

4.2.7Terms of Board Members: Board members shall serve three-year terms, such terms to be staggered. Board members may only serve two full consecutive terms. After two full terms, a Board member may serve again after an absence from the Board of at least one year.

4.2.8 Vacancies: All Board member vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Board and approved by a majority vote of the remaining Board members eligible to vote and shall serve out the unexpired term of their predecessors in office. Vacancies in the committee chair positions shall be filled by appointment by the Chairs and approved by a majority vote of the Board members eligible to vote.

4.2.9 Compensation:  No Director other than the Secretary-General shall for reason of his/her office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation except that Directors may be reimbursed on an exceptional basis for reasonable expenses related to official ACTU business. These expenses must be proposed by the Secretary-General and approved by a majority of the executive committee (see Chapter 5.1).

4.2.10 Removal from the Board: A Director shall be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the remainder of all of the members of the Board eligible to vote when cause exists for such removal. Cause includes, but is not limited to, participation at less than half of the Board meetings over a twelve-month period, resignation, retirement or termination of the Director from the member organization originally represented, and/or failure of the member organization to remain current in dues.

4.2.11 Board Voting Rules and Procedures: The Board shall make a decision with a simple majority of voting among Board members who are present at the meeting. For the following important issues, Board decision needs a 2/3 affirmative voting:

  Proposing changes to the bylaws

  Adoption of the overall organizational budget

  Membership fees

  Definitional changes to memberships

  Appointments and Committee assignments designated to be made by the full Board.

Chapter V: Committees

5.1 Executive Committee: The Chair & Vice Chairs, Treasurer and Secretary-General shall constitute the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board in matters pertaining to the management of ACTU except as limited by applicable law and instructions of the Board and shall act for the Board between meetings of the Board. The executive committee shall report to the full Board any actions it takes at the next full meeting of the Board.

5.2 Nominations Committee: The Nominations Committee is tasked to conduct the nomination of the Board members, and will present the final recommendation of candidates to the Board of Directors for final approval by a majority vote of the members of the full Board eligible to vote.

5.3 Membership Committee: The Membership committee addresses the Member recruitment and policies and issues related to ACTU membership. Five (5) to nine (9) members may be considered for the Committee. The Membership Committee members shall be appointed to serve a three-year term. The Chair of the committee will be appointed by the Board and approved by a majority vote of the members of the full Board eligible to vote.

5.4 Conference Committee: The Conference Committee is tasked to plan, implement and co-ordinate the organization of the annual conferences of ACTU, which includes the planning, budgeting, promotion, organization, public relations, and conference sponsorship, etc.

5.5 Additional Committees: The Board of Directors may establish other ad hoc committees, as it deems appropriate.

Chapter VI: Officers of ACTU

6.1 Chairs：The Chairs shall, as Chair, preside over all meetings of the membership and Board, and shall from time to time make such reports of the affairs of ACTU to the membership at the Annual Membership Meeting and at each Board meeting. The Chairs also represent ACTU in its public appearances and may speak on behalf of ACTU.  

6.2 Treasurer：Subject to the direction and oversight of the Board, the Treasurer shall oversee the financial affairs of ACTU. Working with the Chairs and the Secretary-General, the Treasurer shall present an annual budget and final accounts for approval by the Board. The Treasurer shall ensure that all organizational funds shall be deposited in a suitable bank account.

6.3 Secretary-General: The Secretary-General shall be nominated by EWIE, approved and appointed by the Board. She/he shall serve as the chief executive officer of ACTU and shall, along with the Chairs, represent the organization. The Secretary-General is responsible for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the organization, as well as to provide leadership in developing programs, organizational and financial plans in collaboration with the Board of Directors and to carry out plans and policies authorized by the Board.

ARTICLE VII: Amendments

These bylaws may be altered, amended, repealed, and added to by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the full Board eligible to vote.

ARTICLE VIII: Miscellaneous Provisions

8.1 Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of ACTU shall commence on January 1.

8.2 Dissolution: Should ACTU cease to act and be dissolved, its property and assets remaining shall be paid over to and become the property of a charitable organization designated by the Board.

8.3 Language: These bylaws are written in English and Chinese. If there is any difference, the English version prevails.