World Council of Comparative Education Societies

Statutes

Amended 1996

Article 1: Legal Status

1. The WCCES is an international non-governmental organization representing at international level the duly constituted societies and groups of comparative educationists which are accepted as members in accordance with the By-Laws.

Article 2: Aims and Functions

2.1 The broad goals of the WCCES are:

• to advance education for international understanding in the interests of peace, intercultural
  co-operation, mutual respect among peoples and observance of human rights.
• to improve education systems so that the right of all to education may be more fully realized.

2.2 The specific professional aims of the WCCES are:

• to promote the study of comparative and international education throughout the world and
  enhance the academic status of this field;
• to bring comparative education to bear on the major educational problems of the day by fostering co-operative action by specialists from different parts of the world.

2.3 To achieve these aims, the WCCES shall:

• # encourage the teaching of, and research in, comparative education;
• promote interdisciplinary collaboration in the development of comparative approaches to the study of educational problems;
• facilitate co-operation between comparative educationists of different countries and regions,
  and foster the establishment of professional associations and groups of comparative
  educationists;
• support international programs in education and the agencies responsible for them, by
  focusing the attention of comparative research workers on the major problems encountered
  in these programs;
• organize research projects for which there is a particular need;
• improve the exchange of information about research and methodological developments in
  comparative education

Article 3: Membership

3.1 The WCCES is composed of the societies and groups of comparative educationists whose
constitutions and objectives conform to those of the WCCES and which are duly accepted
into membership in accordance with the By-Laws of the Council, thereupon becoming
constituent members.

Article 4: Government

4.1 Executive Committee

4.1.1. The Executive Committee is the principal organ of government of the WCCES. It decides policy, reports to the Assembly, and is responsible for conducting the affairs of the WCCES by admitting new constituent members, appointing the office bearers and adopting the program of activities to be carried out.

4.1.2. The Executive Committee shall consist of:

• a) representatives designated by constituent associations or groups;
• b) other members;
• c) co-opted non-voting consultant members.

The total number of Executive Committee members and the number or proportion of each category of membership shall be as stated in the By-Laws.

4.1.3. The Executive Committee shall elect a president whose term of office and responsibilities shall be defined by the By-Laws.

4.1.4. The Executive Committee shall elect a vice president or vice presidents whose terms of office and responsibilities shall be defined by the By-Laws.

4.1.5. The Executive Committee will also appoint a Secretary-General to the Council and may approve the appointment by the President of one or more Assistant Secretaries and other officers, as outlined in the By-Laws.

4.1.6. The Executive Committee shall elect a treasurer whose term of office and responsibilities shall be defined by the By-Laws.

The Executive Committee shall normally meet once a year. It may admit to its meetings, as observers, representatives of national or international organizations which express an interest in its work. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to delegate its functions to a Bureau consisting of office bearers and also to set up Commissions to assist it in its work. On the occasion of each World Congress the Executive Committee will present a consolidated report of its management of the WCCES.

4.1.10 Legal right of signature on behalf of the Council shall be vested in the President and Secretary-General or Treasurer in the case of financial disbursements.

4.2 The Bureau

4.2.1. The Bureau shall be responsible for carrying out the program of administrative activities on behalf of the Executive Committee, and for negotiating proper arrangements, including provision of appropriate revenue to the WCCES, with World Congress host societies. It shall also have such powers as are delegated to it by the Executive Committee to act on its behalf between its meetings in accordance with the By-Laws.

4.2.2. The Bureau shall consist of the President; the Vice President(s); the Secretary-General in charge of the WCCES Secretariat; the Treasurer; and a voting or non-voting member of the Executive Committee elected by that body's voting members.

4.3 The Assembly

On the occasion of each World Congress an Assembly or business session of the WCCES shall be called to discuss WCCES affairs. The Assembly has a consultative and advisory role. It shall be presided over by the President. It shall receive and discuss the report of the Executive Committee, and make recommendations and express its views on any question submitted to it. All regular individual or institutional members of constituent societies or groups present at the World Congress are entitled to attend the Assembly.

4.4 The Secretariat

The Secretariat is the central office and headquarters of the WCCES. It shall be directed by the Secretary-General who may be aided by one or more Assistant Secretaries-General. It shall perform the routine tasks of the WCCES, including the keeping of minutes of the Bureau and Executive Committee meeting, and, when approved, making them part of the permanent records; co-ordinate information on Bureau and Executive Committee meetings; furnish information about Bureau and Executive Committee activities to the Bulletin Editor; prepare announcements of and perform as an informational resource at World Congresses; and serve as custodian of the permanent records and financial accounts.

Article 5: Activities

5.1. The program of activities is decided by the Executive Committee. It should, in principle, comprise action designed to:

• organize the periodic World Congress of Comparative Education Societies, normally at intervals of three years. Responsibility for the preparatory work, conduct of the Congress and follow-up, rests with the member elected President of the next World Congress according to the By-Laws. He/she shall be supported by the Bureau, and the substantive Congress program should be agreed to by the Bureau;
• prospect for new constituent members and give whatever support is possible to new associations or groups of comparative educationists. The main responsibility here lies with the President and Secretary-General;
• disseminate information about constituent members and the progress of comparative education. To this end a periodic Newsletter shall be issued, in English and French, and other forms of communication will be developed. In particular, directories of specialists, institutions and programs will be compiled as resources permit. Responsibility for these activities will be carried by individual members of the Bureau;
• maintain the international relations of the WCCES, in particular contacts with UNESCO and other pertinent international agencies. As appropriate, the services of the WCCES will be offered to these bodies. The President and the Secretary-General are responsible for such action.

5.2 Wherever possible, the activities of the WCCES should be carried out in partnership with one or more constituent members, in the interest both of economy and of an effective participation by individual specialists in international co-operation.

Article 6: Resources

6.1. The Executive Committee has authority to seek and accept funds to achieve the objectives of the WCCES.

6.2. A flexible system of dues from constituent members may be set up to cover basic costs of maintaining the WCCES. Beyond this, the Bureau is empowered to receive grants, payment for contracted work and revenue from sale of publication, with the prior approval of the Executive Committee whenever necessary.

6.3. Accounts of the WCCES finances will be maintained by the Secretary-General and will be reported in the Executive Committee annual report to constituent members.

Article 7: Amendation and Dissolution

7.1. Amendment of the Statutes of the WCCES may be recommended to the General Assembly on the basis of a two-thirds majority vote of the whole Executive Committee (i.e. of its voting members). Amendments may then come into force on the basis of a simple majority of the General Assembly, duly notified of the proposals to be considered according to the By-Laws.

7.2. The Bureau will draw up Regulations and By-Laws which include procedures to be followed in applying the Statutes. These must be submitted for approval to the Executive Committee.

7.3. A recommendation to dissolve the WCCES shall require a two-thirds majority of the full Executive Committee (those present at a meeting and those voting by mail), following circulation of a proposal in this sense at least three months before the meeting. Such a recommendation may then be taken to the General Assembly, according to the By-Laws, and shall take effect if passed by the Assembly by a simple majority. In the event of dissolution, three Trustees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to dispose of the assets of the WCCES, due account being taken of the aims for which the WCCES was established.