Background and Role of the Panel

• The Taiwan Panel was established in March 1995 to undertake the role previously filled by the ATEC Policy Board with regard to the education promotion work of ATEC (now referred to as the Taiwan Scheme). The following conditions for operating the Taiwan Scheme have been agreed by EUKP:
• The purpose of the Taiwan Scheme is to promote the interests of subscribing member institutions at individual and sector level by providing a range of relevant, high quality generic and bespoke services which offer good value for money.
• The Taiwan Scheme is managed and administered by British Council Taipei, under direction from the Taiwan Panel, in line with British Council corporate standards and policy.
• The Taiwan Panel operates as an executive committee for the Taiwan Scheme to ensure that it achieves its purpose and maintains its position and role in Taiwan.
• The Taiwan Panel advises on the policy for British Council Taipei education promotion and counselling work for the Taiwan Scheme to ensure it meets the needs and interests of the scheme’s membership
• The Taiwan Panel ensures that agreed authorities are followed on the use of Taiwan Scheme reserves.
• Taiwan Scheme subscriber membership includes Higher Education, Further Education, English language schools and private secondary schools, all of which are fully represented on the Panel.
• One member of the EUKP Board of Directors is a member of the Taiwan Panel.
• The Director of British Council Taipei is a member of the Taiwan Panel
• British Council Director Education UK Partnerships is a member of the Taiwan Panel.
  

Membership of the Panel

There will be 10 members of the Panel as follows:

3 Higher Education representatives
1 Further Education representative
1 EFL representative
1 Independent Schools representative
1 Link Member (EUKP Board of Directors appointed)
Director Education UK Partnerships
Director Education East Asia
Director British Council Taipei.

In the event of any of the representatives being unable to attend a Panel meeting, they may nominate a colleague to represent them. This nomination must be approved by the Chair at least two weeks in advance.

Director Programmes, British Council Taipei will attend Panel meetings for reporting purposes.  A relevant UK or Taiwan administrative staff member may attend Panel meetings for the purpose of minute taking.  

Election and Appointment of Chair and Members to the Taiwan Panel

Chair
The Chair will normally be an elected member of the Panel and should, if possible, be a person with experience as a Panel member. The Chair will be elected by members of the Panel for a period of 3 years with the possibility of re-appointment for further terms.

Deputy Chair
The Deputy Chair will normally be an elected member of the Panel and will also be elected by members of the Panel.  The Deputy Chair and will serve for an initial period of 3 years in this role with the possibility of re-appointment for further terms.

The Elections

Nominations for the election of Panel Members will be requested and received in writing or email by Director Programmes British Council Taipei or a staff member in UK or Taiwan nominated by Director Programmes. Each subscribing institution is entitled to nominate one panel member who may be from their own or another member institution. Each nomination must be supported by one other subscribing institution from the same sector and the nominee must have agreed to stand for election.

The election will be conducted by Director Programmes British Council Taipei or a staff member in UK or Taiwan nominated by them through a postal or electronic ballot. Subscribing institutions will vote only within their own sectors. Subscribers in the higher education sector may vote for up to three candidates. Subscribers in other sectors may vote for one candidate. In the case of Higher Education, the three candidates securing the greatest numbers of votes within that sector will be elected. In other sectors the candidate securing the greatest number of votes within each sector will be elected.

Tenure of Office

Elected Panel members are expected to serve for 3 years in the first instance after which they may stand for re-election. The Chair and Deputy Chair will also serve for an initial period of 3 years. Appointed Panel members are expected to ensure continuity in the operations of the Panel and to attend Panel meetings as far as possible (please see above on the nomination by Panel members of a substitute to attend panel meetings). Continuity will be further ensured by the terms of office of the Chair.

Procedures for Meetings

Meetings and Papers

The Panel should meet a minimum of twice per year, (Spring meeting in London, Autumn meeting in Taipei).
Director Programmes will provide draft meeting agendas to the Chair for approval in advance of all meetings.

The agendas and papers for Panel meetings will be prepared by Director Programmes British Council Taipei to reach Panel members at least one week before each meeting.

Minutes of meetings will provide a concise record of the Panel’s transactions, noting the views of members where appropriate, but concentrating on decisions, recommendations and action points.

The minutes will be taken by a British Council staff member appointed by Director Programmes.

Director Programmes will provide drafts of minutes to the Chair for approval before they are circulated to all Panel members and subscribing institutions.

Where a Panel meeting coincides with a gathering of the membership (e.g. at Exhibitions) the Panel may l take the opportunity to report back to the membership on the work of the Panel in general and the issues raised at the meeting in particular, and to take feedback from members.

Quorum of the Panel

A quorum shall consist of five Panel members. The Chair (or the Chair appointed specifically for the meeting – see below) has the right to decide that a meeting shall proceed if less than five members are present; but any decisions of the meeting when inquorate must be subject either to: ratification in writing by at least half of the members who were absent, or confirmation by the next quorate meeting.

Where the Chair is unable to attend a Panel Meeting he/she will normally be replaced by the Deputy Chair or, if the Deputy Chair is also unavailable, by a Panel member nominated by the Chair for that meeting.

Decision making

Decisions by the Panel will normally be reached by consensus.   Where consensus is not reached, the Chair may put a proposal to the vote. This will be by a show of hands, the Chair having the casting vote.

If the Chair considers it to be appropriate he/she can insist on a secret ballot, retaining the casting vote to himself/herself.

Responsibilities of British Council Taipei

• Collating and circulating papers for meetings of the Panel.
• Drafting and circulating minutes of the meeting of British Council Taiwan Panel.
• Conducting Panel elections in accordance with this Constitution.
• Such duties as required by the Chair of the Panel.