MEDITERRANEAN SOCIETY OF COMPARATIVE EDUCATION (MESCE)
CONSTITUTION

 

ARTICLE I.: NAME, SEAT AND PURPOSE

Name The name of this organization shall be the Mediterranean Society of Comparative Education, hereinafter identified as the MESCE.

Seat The official address of the MESCE shall be the address of the elected President.

Purpose The MESCE is exclusively organized for educational and scientific purposes, to contribute to an understanding of education through encouragement and promotion of comparative education and related areas of inquiry and activity. Specifically, MESCE shall:

  1. deliver a “Mediterranean dimension” in education as a means of peace, mutual understanding and sustainable development in the Mediterranean area;
  2. increase the dialogue and mutual knowledge among scholars in education and educators from all the Mediterranean countries;
  3. encourage the initiation of programs of research, co-operation and intellectual exchanges in education among the scholars of the Mediterranean countries;
  4. explore the possibilities of a greater co-operation among scholars in education and scholars in other humanistic and scientific disciplines;
  5. initiate, via education, cultural studies and discussions among the Mediterranean cultures (European and Arabic) and the other cultures (Chinese, Indian and sub-Saharan) which are present in the Mediterranean area as a further means of preventing misunderstanding and racism;
  6. promote teaching and research in comparative, intercultural and international education in institutions of higher learning in all the Mediterranean countries;
  7. disseminate ideas and information, through seminars, publications and other similar means, about developments in Comparative Education, in the Mediterranean countries and elsewhere ;
  8. foster application of comparative theories and research in applied settings;
  9. contribute to the interpretation of developments in the field of education in their broad and interrelated political, economic, and social contexts;
  10. encourage educational and cultural exchanges; and
  11. promote and foster understanding of how educational policies and programmes can improve social and economic development.

 

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATION

Membership full status membership shall be open to:

  1. Teachers of comparative education, foundation subjects in education, or intercultural and international studies;
  2. Individuals who hold a higher degree in comparative education and/or are engaged in comparative education, international studies, or related activities in organizations other than institutions of higher learning; and
  3. Individuals serving as teachers and/or researchers in professional education or other disciplines (such as Anthropology of Education, Economics of Education, History of Education, Sociology of Education, Sociolinguistics, and such other scholarly disciplines as the Executive Committee may from time to time determine), who demonstrate an interest in the promotion of comparative education, intercultural, international and development studies, and related activities.

An applicant becomes a member when his or her application is approved by the Executive Committee, and the membership fee is paid.
   The membership year begins January 1 or at the time of application and runs until December 31, of the same year. Thereafter the membership shall continue in force upon acceptance of the membership fee for each succeeding year.
   Membership of emeritus status shall be defined by the Executive Committee.
Institutional affiliation shall be open to:

  1. Institutions of higher education and their subunits;
  2. Professional, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations; and
  3. General and research libraries.
       Affiliation fees shall be set by the Executive Committee.

 

ARTICLE III: RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE MEMBERS

Members have the right and the obligation to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM); they have the right to elect, be elected, propose, vote and recommend new possible members.

Members are entitled to participate in all the seminars and other scholarly and social gatherings held by the MESCE upon payment of the registration fees as may be required..

Members shall abide by the constitution of the MESCE and the resolutions passed by the AGM or EGM.

Members shall pay the annual membership fees prescribed by the AGM.

Members are expected to contribute towards the MESCE either by their scholarly endeavours and participation in the activities sponsored by the Society, or in other ways as recognized by the Executive Committee.

 

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS AND POWERS

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

IV.1. The supreme authority of the Society is vested in the AGM during recess periods of which the Executive Committee is the executive organ.

IV.2. The Executive Committee consists of nine persons: the President, the Vice President, the Immediate Past President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and other four elected members.

IV.3.  The Executive Committee members(except the Past President) are elected in the AGM and give their services free. The term of office of the members elected in the Executive Committee is two years and they may be re-elected.

IV.4. The term of office shall begin one month after the election, and last until one month after the next election at an AGM.

IV.5. The Executive Committee members shall nominate and elect from among themselves the various officers within one month after their election in the AGM, and notify the general membership of their decisions.

IV.6. When both the President and the Vice-President are absent from a meeting, those Executive Committee members present should elect from among themselves a temporary chairman (protem) to preside over the meeting.

IV.7. When an Executive Committee member vacates his/her office, the Executive Committee should elect a member of the Executive Committee to the vacant post.

IV.8. The Functions of the Executive Committee are to:

  1. implement the resolutions passed by the AGM and the EGM;
  2. prepare the annual budget and other reports for the AGM;
  3. attend to the daily affairs of the Society;
  4. set up standing or ad hoc committees when deemed necessary;
  5. make recommendations to the AGM

IV.9. The Executive Committee Meeting:

  1. The Executive Committee shall convene before and during the periods including the Annual General Meeting;
  2. Meet at other convenient times by request of the President or at least two of its regular members
  3. The quorum for the Executive Committee meeting is 50% of its membership .

 

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING(AGM)

IV.10. The functions of the AGM are:

  1. to elect the Executive Committee;
  2. to review and adopt the annual and  progress reports, the financial report, and the minutes of the previous AGM or EGM of the MESCE;
  3. to assess the annual fees;
  4. to choose and appoint the bank accounts for the MESCE;
  5. to rescind, amend or add to any of the provisions of the Constitution of the Society;
  6. to transact any other business deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.
  7. The quorum for the AGM IS 50% of the membership.

THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING (EGM)

IV.11. The functions of EGM are:

  1. During the recess of the AGM, the EGM may be called to deal with urgent matters upon the request of over one third of all the members or one half of the Executive Committee members of the society who should raise such a request in written form, bearing their signatures, to the President.
  2. The functions of the EGM are to rescind, amend or add to any of the provisions of the Constitution.
  3. To assess any other business deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.
  4. Discussions held and resolutions passed at the meeting should be confined only to those topics stipulated in the agenda.
  5. The quorum for the EGM is two-thirds of its membership.

 

ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

V.1.The President shall:

  1. Represent the MESCE in keeping with its purpose;
  2. Serve as Chair of the Executive Committee;
  3. After consultation with the Executive Committee, appoint the Nominating Committee chair from among members not holding office in the MESCE;
  4. Establish ad hoc committees and appoint chairs of these committees;
  5. Serve as ex officio on Committees other than the Nominating Committee;
  6. Preside at the Annual Meeting and give the Presidential Address;
  7. Plan the business agenda and conduct the Meeting on the State of the MESCE at the Annual Meeting;
  8. In consultation with the Secretary, authorize those regional meetings, which may be held under MESCE auspices;
  9. Sign or authorize warrants on the Treasurer for disbursements other than those fixed amounts authorized by vote of the Executive Committee;
  10. Appoint a minimum of three tellers to tally election ballots and count other votes at the Annual Meeting;
  11. Appoint MESCE representatives to organizations with which the MESCE is affiliated; and
  12. Perform other duties consistent with the office.

V.2 .The Vice President shall:

  1. Perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President;
  2. Plan and organize the professional programme for the Annual Meeting;
  3. Perform such other duties on delegation by the President and/or the Executive Committee as shall be mutually agreed upon;

V.3 .The Secretary shall:

  1. See that minutes of the Society's meetings and of the Executive Committee are kept and, when approved, made a part of its permanent records;
  2. Coordinate information on regional meetings authorized to be held under Society auspices;
  3. Compile, edit, and publish the Bulletin of the MESCE in the “Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies”;
  4. Prepare and disseminate the biannual membership directory;
  5. Serve as Society liaison in connection with information dissemination networks;
  6. Prepare the convocation to the Annual Meeting;
  7. Receive sealed ballots by the date specified on the ballot paper, and present them to the tellers for tally during the Annual Meeting;
  8. Receive and tabulate returns on any special poll authorized by the Executive Committee;
  9. Serve as custodian of the records of the MESCE other than those entrusted to the Treasurer; and
  10. Perform other duties consistent with the office.

V.4 .The Treasurer shall:

  1. Receive and deposit in the MESCE's bank account the proceeds from membership fees, separate subscription fees, grants, and all other monies of the MESCE;
  2. Make MESCE disbursements on the basis of the warrants signed by the President or authorizations by the Executive Committee;
  3. Ensure that membership renewal notices are prepared and sent to members and affiliates of the MESCE;
  4. See that membership rosters are kept up-to-date;
  5. Draft the annual budget and present it to the Executive Committee for their recommendation to the membership;
  6. Report on the MESCE’s finances at the request of the Executive Committee and annually to the membership;
  7. Make provision for the MESCE's triannual audits, and open the MESCE's books to audit on demand of the Executive committee; and
  8. Perform other duties consistent with the office.

 

ARTICLE VI: ELECTIONS

VI.1 Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed from among the members who are not holding office in the MESCE and who shall have been members for at least one year. The Committee shall consist of not less than three members including the Chair.
Candidates for the Executive Committee shall be nominated by a member and seconded by another member. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected from amongst the candidates by the members of the MESCE in the A.G.M.

 

ARTICLE VII: AGM and EGM MEETINGS

VII.1. Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting:

  1. Time and Place. The time and place of the Annual Meeting shall be approved by the Executive Committee upon presentation of content and budget proposals by the Elected President at least one year in advance of that Annual Meeting.
  2. Legislation. When a quorum is present at a duly called Meeting on the State of the MESCE, the members so assembled shall constitute a legislative body to determine policy and act on other business brought before the MESCE by the President or other officers, the Executive Committee in keeping with their respective authority and any related procedure specified in this Constitution. Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prevent any member in such a Meeting on the State of the MESCE from raising any other matter of business. Action shall be of a preliminary nature pending appropriate investigation and recommendation when such other matters of business are not previously listed on the agenda.
  3. Reports. The Secretary shall distribute formal reports of officers and committee chairs to each member of the Executive Committee member at least 15 days prior to the Annual Meeting. The Secretary shall distribute a summary of the programme and business deliberations of the Annual Meeting to members within four months of such Meeting.
       In the absence of a quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned and be convened again within two weeks. If the following meeting still lacks a quorum, the agenda shall be discussed and resolved by the Executive Committee members.

VII.2.  Executive Committee Meeting
The meetings shall be held every two months. The convocation to the meeting together with the agenda shall be notified to members of the Executive Committee one week before the meeting.  The quorum is at least half of the members of the Executive Committee.

VII.3 . Regional Meeting:
Authorization. Regional Meetings of the MESCE shall be professional meetings authorized by the President in consultation with the Executive Committee from proposals received at least four months in advance of the proposed Regional Meeting.

  1. Each Regional Meeting shall have a coordinator who shall ensure that the meeting is conducted in accordance with MESCE standards and purpose.
  2. Transaction of Business. Only business of a regional nature, and which is consistent with policies of the MESCE, shall be conducted at Regional Meetings under MESCE auspices.
    Announcements and Reports. The Secretary shall ensure that members receive information on Regional Meetings authorized to be held under MESCE auspices. Regional Coordinators shall present to the Secretary a summary of activities conducted during the year at least 60 days prior to the next Annual Meeting.
    Policy, Procedure, and Regulations. The Executive Committee shall determine policy, procedure, and regulations governing establishment and operation of Regional Chapters, which may be authorized under Society auspices.
    Finances. A regional Chapter may maintain a bank account and raise funds to conduct its matters of business. It shall be subject to the same accounting responsibilities and standards as the Society.

 

ARTICLE VIII: REGULAR PUBLICATIONS

The MESCE has a Bulletin that is hosted by the Mediterranean Journal of Educational Studies (University of Malta).

 

ARTICLE IX: ARCHIVE

The Executive Committee shall see that an appropriate institution houses the archives of the Society. A Historian, named by the President, shall ensure the proper maintenance of the archives.

 

ARTICLE X: BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

Standing Committees (such as permanent Working Groups on International Relations; History, Philosophy, and Theology; Psychology, Psychoanalysis, and Education; Sociology, Politics, and Economics) shall be defined by the Executive Committee.

 

ARTICLE XI : OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

The official languages of the MESCE are Arabic, English, and French. The possibility of using one local language in addition to the official ones is not excluded.

 

ARTICLE XII: FINANCES

No part of the net earnings of the MESCE shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the MESCE shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof .
Upon the dissolution of the MESCE, the assets shall be distributed for a public purpose. If the Society shall dissolve, the decision shall be made by the AGM or EGM and assented to by over two-thirds of all the members of the Society. Any remaining assets of the Society upon its dissolution should be donated to local charitable organizations.
Any debts of the society shall be borne by all the Executive Committee members to the degree in which the debts are incurred.

 

ARTICLE XIII: BYLAWS

The MESCE shall have the authority to determine rules and regulations which shall be called Bylaws. Bylaws shall be consistent with the content and purpose of the MESCE's Constitution.
 
Definition of a Bylaw. A Bylaw shall be defined as any set of rules adopted by the Executive Committee and approved by the AGM for governing the affairs of the MESCE. A Bylaw shall be considered a definite part of the MESCE framework and shall carry the full weight of legal and regulatory power.
Creation of Bylaws. Bylaws shall be created and put into effect when legislation is approved by the Executive Committee  and the AGM with a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of a formal quorum.

 

ARTICLE XIV: AMENDMENTS

This Constitution shall be amended when the following activities have taken place

  1. A provisional amendment is presented at a duly constituted Meeting on the State of the MESCE held during the Annual Meeting;
  2. A summary of the discussion and preliminary action together with an official ballot for voting on the proposed amendment is sent to the members along with any related recommendation by the Executive Committee; and
  3. Two-thirds of members responding within three months to a mail poll vote in favour of the proposed amendment; and
  4. The President makes a formal announcement of the results of the poll to the membership.

 

  
 

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