Background and Role of the Panel

The Taiwan Panel was established in March 1995 to undertake the task that the ATEC Policy Board was responsible for with regard to the education promotion work of ATEC (hereinafter referred to as British Council Taipei). The conditions for operating the panel agreed with the EUKP (then ECS) Board were:

• That it continues with the functions of the former ATEC Policy Board, namely: to advise on the policy for British Council Taipei education promotion and counselling work and ensure the interests of the membership are taken into account; to decide on the use of unallocated British Council Taipei reserves.
• That British Council Taipei subscriber membership, which in addition to Higher Education and Further Education includes English language schools and private secondary schools, should be fully represented on the Panel.
• That one member of the EUKP Board of Directors should also be a member of the Taiwan Panel.

Membership of the Panel

The membership and composition of the British Council Taiwan Panel will be as follows:

• 3 Higher Education representatives
• 1 Further Education representative
• 1 EFL representative
• 1 Secondary representative
• 1 Link Member (EUKP Board of Directors appointed)

Three places will be held by British Council staff representing those parts of the Council’s UK and overseas structure most closely involved in the management and development of EUMD and British Council Taipei: British Council Director Taipei; Director East Asia; Director EUKP.

(In the event of any of the British Council representatives being unable to attend, they may nominate a British Council colleague to represent them. This nomination must be approved by the Chair.

Thereafter there will be 10 members of the Panel.

The Director Education, British Council Taipei, and the Taiwan Officer in the UK will be in attendance.

Election and Appointment of Chair and Members to the Taiwan Panel

Chair

Wherever possible, the Chair should be a person with experience as a member of the Panel. The Chair will be elected by the members of the Panel (through a postal ballot, if appropriate) for a period of 3 years with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term of 3 years, after which ordinary membership of the Panel may continue.

Deputy Chair

The Deputy Chair will normally be an elected member of the Panel. The Deputy Chair will be elected by members of the Panel (through a postal ballot, if appropriate),  and will serve for an initial period of 3 years in this role with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term of 3 years, after which ordinary membership of the Panel may continue.

The Elections

Nominations for the election of Panel Members will be received in writing by the Taiwan Officer in the UK. Each subscribing institution is entitled to nominate one panel member. Each nomination must be supported by two other subscribing institutions and the nominee must have agreed to stand for election.

The election will be conducted by the Taiwan Officer through a postal 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 members will normally serve 3 years to a specified end date on the Panel before standing 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 should not normally change within 6 months of an election having taken place.  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, (Summer meeting in London, Autumn meeting in Taipei).

The agendas and papers for meetings should 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 the Taiwan Officer in the UK who will attend each meeting. The Chair should clear drafts of minutes before they are printed and 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 will 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.

With the exception of the three British Council representatives, Panel members are not allowed to select "alternates" to attend meetings.

Where the Chair is unable to attend a Panel Meeting he/she will normally be replaced by the Deputy 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 the Taiwan Officer in the UK

The duties of the Taiwan Officer include:

• 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.