Statute
BACKStatute of the University Consortium of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 Official Name
1.1 Chinese name
Full name: “21世纪海上丝绸之路”大学联盟
Abbreviation: 海丝大学联盟
1.2 English name
Full name: University Consortium of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
Abbreviation: UCMSR
Article 2 Founding Members
Cardiff University, Central South University, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Chulalongkorn University, Dalian University of Technology, Duke Kunshan University, Fudan University, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Hokkaido University, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jilin University, Mae Fah Luang University, Nanjing University, Nanyang Technological University, Newcastle University, Peking University, Shandong University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sorbonne University, Southeast University, South China University of Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The University of Hong Kong, The University of Queensland, The University of Sheffield, Tianjin University, Tongji University, Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, University of Macau, University of Malaya, University of Southampton, Victoria University of Wellington, Waseda University, Wuhan University, Xiamen University.
Article 3 Date and Venue of Establishment
The University Consortium of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (hereinafter referred to as “UCMSR”) is established on 20 October, 2018, in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China.
Article 4 Nature of UCMSR
UCMSR is a non-profit, non-governmental, inclusive international platform for higher education cooperation established by high-level universities worldwide on an equal and voluntary basis in an era of peaceful development and win-win cooperation.
Article 5 Mission
Under the Silk Road spirit of “peace, friendship, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit”, UCMSR aims to establish a platform for educational cooperation to facilitate exchanges and cooperation in areas of inter-university communication, talent cultivation, discipline building, technological innovation and social service. It is also dedicated to cultivating talents with a global perspective and strengthening understanding and friendship among member universities so as to secure common development.
Chapter II Membership
Article 6 Qualification
Membership of UCMSR shall be open to universities offering bachelor or higher degrees.
Article 7 Member Rights
Members of UCMSR have the following rights:
7.1 Have access to shared information and resources within the Consortium.
7.2 Launch or participate in cooperation in areas of inter-university exchange, talent cultivation, discipline building, technological innovation and social service under the framework of UCMSR.
7.3 Make suggestions for the development of UCMSR and take part in related discussions.
7.4 Have the freedom to enter or exit UCMSR.
7.5 Other rights in accordance with the terms of this Statute.
Article 8 Member Obligations
Members of UCMSR shall accept the following obligations:
8.1 Abide by the Statute of UCMSR and maintain the Consortium’s reputation.
8.2 Carry out decisions of the Executive Council and proactively work with the Executive Council to ensure the implementation of cooperative programs.
8.3 Actively carry out cooperative programs.
8.4 Cooperate without damaging the other parties’ reputation or interests.
Article 9 Entry and Exit
9.1 Initiators of UCMSR automatically become its founding members.
9.2 New members shall be accepted with the approval of two thirds of the Council Members of UCMSR. Applications for membership should be made to the Secretariat.
9.3 Members may exit the UCMSR by notification to the Secretariat of the UCMSR.
9.4 When any breach of this Statute or dereliction of duty occurs, a university’s membership may be suspended by a decision of the Council.
Chapter III Organizational Structure and Duty
Article 10 The Council
10.1 The Consortium sets up a Council consisting of the head of each member university. The Council will meet at times and in a manner determined by the Secretariat.
10.2 The Council shall be responsible for approving the entry of new members.
10.3 The Council chooses the members of the Executive Council.
Article 11 The Executive Council
11.1 The Executive Council is the decision-making body of UCMSR, with a two-year term for the Executive Members. On completion of a term, a university’s membership of the Executive Council may be renewed by the Council.
11.2 The Executive Council should meet at least once a year.
11.3 The Executive Council shall be in charge of examining and determining the work plan of the Consortium.
11.4 The Executive Council shall advise on and coordinate the work of the Secretariat.
11.5 The first Executive Council consists of member institutions that have contributed greatly to the founding of the Consortium.
Article 12 The Chair
12.1 The Chair is chosen by the Executive Council for a term of two years.
12.2 The Chair shall chair the Executive Council.
Article 13 The Secretariat
13.1 The Secretariat is a functional body of the UCMSR responsible for its daily operation and liaison.
13.2 The Secretariat is based at Xiamen University.
13.3 The Secretariat shall be responsible for the Consortium’s daily operation and management, including drafting relevant documents, making the Consortium’s plans, financial management, logistics and publicity, etc.
13.4 The Secretariat reports to the Executive Council.
Chapter IV Areas of Cooperation
Article 14 Institutional Advancement
The UCMSR shall:
14.1 Explore and promote the institutional advancement and philosophies of modern universities.
14.2 Promote and communicate experience of innovative management systems among members of the UCMSR.
Article 15 Talents Cultivation
The UCMSR shall:
15.1 Promote the growth of international students in member universities, and conduct cooperative education, staff exchange, and other forms of joint programs.
15.2 Encourage the sharing of best practices in talents cultivation among member institutions.
Article 16 Discipline Development
The UCMSR shall:
16.1 Promote the cooperation among disciplines of member universities so as to achieve complementary growth.
16.2 Draw on the strength of each member university, build inter-disciplinary joint research centers and colleges and promote the development of inter-disciplines and emerging disciplines.
Article 17 Research Cooperation
17.1 The UCMSR shall promote communication and cooperation among research faculties in UCMSR member universities. It shall enhance science and technology innovation by jointly applying for research cooperation programs and building joint laboratories, research centers and international technology transfer centers.
17.2 Any matter concerning property rights arising from research cooperation, research results and patents under the framework of UCMSR shall be negotiated separately by involved parties in a friendly manner.
Article 18 Inter-university communication
The UCMSR shall:
18.1 Encourage various inter-university communication activities among member universities of UCMSR.
18.2 Build a platform for exchanging information and sharing resources in UCMSR.
Article 19 Culture Communication
19.1 The UCMSR may hold various activities including science innovation competitions, culture communication camps, summer programs, sports competition and arts festivals to strengthen the communication and friendship among faculty and students of the member universities.
19.2 Any culture communication activities should be carried out under the principle of equality and mutual trust and follow the local ethnic and religious conventions of respective countries and regions.
Article 20 Social Services
20.1 The UCMSR shall encourage partner universities to launch various kinds of social services and enhance their capability in this regard on the basis of mutual respect.
20.2 Member institutions can jointly establish multi-discipline high-end think tanks and open research institutions, and proactively participate in regional economic and social reform and development. Focusing on major national strategies of reform and development and targeting urgent, key theoretical and practical issues, member institutions may promote industry-university research cooperation, and jointly carry out research of core theories and the development of key technologies.
20.3 The UCMSR shall facilitate the transformation of member institutions’ scientific and technological achievements, and enhance member institutions’ capability to integrate with and serve local economy, science and technology and social development.
Article 21 Regional and Professional Sub-alliances
21.1 Member institutions may build diversified, distinctive regional or professional sub-alliances under the framework of UCMSR.
21.2 Each sub-alliance may have an independent statute and should be subject to the basic principles and spirit of the statute of UCMSR.
Article 22
22.1 The cooperation of UCMSR shall include but is not limited to the aforementioned areas.
22.2 Any cooperation among member universities shall be negotiated separately in a friendly manner by parties who wish to cooperate, and be conducted under the legal framework of the respective countries.
Chapter V Ways of Cooperation
Article 23
The UCMSR encourages various kinds of cooperation among member institutions. Bilateral or multilateral agreements may be signed among member institutions themselves. However, there should be no discriminatory terms against any of member institutions in those agreements.
Article 24
On the premise that the missions of the UCMSR are followed, member institutions reserve the right to sign bilateral or multilateral agreements with other non-member institutions, and the benefits derived from relevant agreements are encouraged to be shared among the member institutions of the UCMSR on condition that the core benefits of the member institution are not impaired.
Article 25
With the consent of the Executive Council, member institutions may sign cooperation agreements with external organizations or apply for governmental and social support in their role as member universities of the UCMSR.
Chapter VI Supplementary Provisions
Article 26
The Statute should be approved by the Executive Council of UCMSR and shall be made available to all member institutions. The Statute shall take effect at the date of promulgation.
Article 27
The Executive Council shall be responsible for amending the articles of the Statute of UCMSR and approving its internal regulations. Amendments to articles of the Statute require a two thirds majority of those members present at the meeting where the decision is made.
Article 28
The right of interpretation of the statute solely belongs to the Executive Council.
20 October, 2018