Statute – Rectors' Conference of the Universities of the Alps-Adriatic Region

Statute – PDF version

Last amendment: 29.05.2021

AARC acknowledges and observes all the valid legal regulations at both EU and national levels but, at the same time, aims at more elaborate forms of interrelationship between different communities within the legal boundaries, not necessarily limited to national states. Cooperation ought to reflect the diverse cultural specificities present in the territory of the European Union and in neighboring zones in the expanding European context.

AARC believes that harmonious coexistence and efficient collaboration of the peoples and communities of the different regions constitute the characteristics and specificities of the present cultural landscape of the Alps Adriatic regions in Europe. These particulars are well represented in the history of this unique European territory and in the spirit of coexistence, which distinguishes the inhabitants who have developed and exerted conscious resistance to every attempt of abuse and uniformisation.

Furthermore, AARC believes that the history and the spirit of the Alps Adriatic communities strengthen internal binding among the European nations and represent a consolidated model for the present and future states of the European Union.

Preamble

The Rectors’ Conference of the Universities of the Alps Adriatic Region (hereafter «AARC») is constituted to promote dialogue among the higher educational institutions of the Alps Adriatic regions in the fields of education, scientific research and didactics. AARC is engaged in supporting collaboration of teachers and students in different academic fields.

AARC cooperates with the requisite institutions of the European Union in scientific research and in the different cycles of higher educational training, including life-long learning.

AARC is devoted to the principle of “Europe of Regions“.

AARC mentions the numerous common traits that have contributed to the characterization of the identities of the peoples of the Alps Adriatic Region, beginning with the most ancient populations who formed the first communities in contact with the Greek-Roman civilisation to the diffusion of Christianity to the arrival of newer and newer peoples who settled down on these territories, creating a genuine mixing in this way. The territories from the Alps to the Adriatic or from the Danube to the Balkans, are the cradle and the witness of continuous and permanent changes in the fields of language, arts, material culture, religion, commerce, law and science.

As a protector of this cultural memory manifested as ”unity in diversity” through the various forms of reciprocal collaborations and willingness to conserve and deepen the friendships, AARC aims at the voluntary and democratic stabilization of this sophisticated complexity called the Alps Adriatic Region.

Article 1

1.1 We consider all the countries, regions, districts and cantons included in the geographical area of the Alps and the Adriatic Sea, and all those connected to them by historical and cultural tradition as part of the Alps Adriatic Region.
1.2 Universities of the Alps Adriatic regions can apply for membership by the rector with an appropriate profile of the university.
The application for membership shall be put on the agenda of the next meeting by the President of the Alps-Adriatic Rectors’ Conference. The request must include a profile containing information about the history, structure, the international relations, as well as the national and international position of the university.

1.3 Universities can also be invited by the AARC to apply as ordinary members or to join as observers.

1.4 All members are required to pay membership fees. Failure to pay the fees will result in the university being suspended from participating in the meetings until the payment has been made.

Article 2

2.1 The following universities are chartered members of the AARC:

Universiteti i Shkodrës “Luigj Gurakuqi” (University of Shkodra)

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg (University of Bamberg)

Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (University of Graz)

Technische Universität Graz (Graz University of Technology)

Montanuniversität Leoben (University of Leoben)

Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz (University of Music and Performing Arts Graz)

Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt (University of Klagenfurt)

Paris-Lodron-Universität Salzburg (University of Salzburg)

Universität Mozarteum Salzburg (Mozarteum University Salzburg)

Sveučilište u Zagrebu (University of Zagreb)

Sveučilište u Splitu (University of Split)

Sveučilište u Rijeci (University of Rijeka)

Sveučilište u Osijeku (University of Osijek)

Sveučilište u Zadru (University of Zadar)

Sveučilište Jurja Dobrile u Puli (University of Pula)

Sveučilište u Mostaru (University of Mostar)

Univerzitet u Sarajevu (University of Sarajevo)

Internacionalni univerzitet u Sarajevu (International University of Sarajevo)

Univerzitet u Istočnom Sarajevu (University of East Sarajevo)

Univerzitet u Zenici (University of Zenica)

Univerzitet u Beogradu (University of Belgrade)

Univerzitet u Nišu (University of Niš)

Univerzitet u Novom Pazaru (International University of Novi Pazar)

Univerza v Ljubljani (University of Ljubljana)

Univerza v Mariboru (University of Maribor)

Univerza v Novi Gorici (University of Nova Gorica)

Univerza na Primorskem (University of Primorska)

Ca’Foscari Università di Venezia (Ca’Foscari University of Venice)

Università Iuav di Venezia (University for Architecture, Venice)

Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (International School for Advanced Studies)

Università degli Studi di Padova (University of Padova)

Università degli Studi di Verona (University of Verona)

Università degli Studi di Trieste (University of Trieste)

Università degli Studi di Udine (University of Udine)

Università degli Studi di Trento (University of Trento)

Università degli Studi di Milano (Statale) (University of Milan)

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milano (Catholic University of Milan)

Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic Institute of Milan)

Università degli Studi di Pavia (University of Pavia)

Università degli Studi di Bergamo (University of Bergamo)

Università degli Studi di Brescia (University of Brescia)

Università degli Studi di Ferrara (University of Ferrara)

Università degli Studi di Parma (University of Parma)

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (University of Modena)

Univerzitet u Tuzli (University of Tuzla)

Nyugat-Magyarországi Egyetem, Sopron (University of West Hungary)

Pécsi Tudományegyetem (University of Pécs)

Pannon Egyetem, Veszprém (University of Pannonia, Veszprém)

Széchenyi István Egyetem, Győr (Széchenyi István University, Győr)

2.2 The list of member universities in Article 2.1 is not final.

Article 3

3.1 The AARC has a Scientific Committee that establishes its own procedures for its activities. The Committee holds two regular meetings per year: the first about six months before the AARC plenary assembly (properly in November) and the second together with the AARC plenary assembly (properly in May). Extraordinary meetings can be called if at least one third of the members ask for it.

3.2 All members of the Scientific Committee are official participants in the AARC meetings.

3.3 The Scientific Committee prepares the agenda of the meetings of the AARC and ensures – together with the rectors – that the resolutions passed by the AARC are carried out.

3.4 The Scientific Committee consists of common representatives for each country, region, district or canton in the Alps Adriatic Region nominated for the universities of their respective countries, regions, districts or cantons, as appropriates. In line with 7.1, the Scientific Committee consists of 13 representatives altogether, with one representative from: Bavaria (Germany), Styria (Austria), Carinthia or Salzburg (Austria), Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Lombardia (Italy), Veneto (Italy), Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (Italy), Friuli-Venezia Giulia (Italy), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania.

3.5 The Scientific Committee is free to coopt other participants, holding no vote, for consultation.

3.6 The composition of the Scientific Committee should both represent a wide range of subjects and ensure continuity through its members. The Scientific Committee recommends fields, which should be represented by new members.

3.7 The rules of Article 9 on minutes also apply to the meetings of the Scientific Committee (with its minutes signed by the committee member of the inviting university and the person taking the minutes).

Article 4

4.1 The AARC serves to facilitate co-operation in the fields of teaching, research, science, education and culture.

4.2 In particular the AARC promotes the strengthening and raising of standards for quality, effciency, competition, integration, synergy effects and networking with regard to research, theory, administration, co-operation, exchange and transfer of positive experience.

4.3 The AARC aims to support balanced relations and interdisciplinarity among all disciplines taught at the member universities of the Rectors’ Conference.

4.4 The AARC promotes and coordinates – with regard to research, teaching, science and culture – national, trans-national, international and interdisciplinary co-operation; projects and methods that help to solve problems of society in the future that are culturally, economically and politically of relevance; the national and international mobility of teaching staff and students; harmonisation and equality in the fields of teaching, university degrees and habilitation; access to and improved use of specialist libraries through the internet; it deals with scholarships and supports, with regard to different projects, a common policy at national level.

4.5 The AARC promotes co-operation and information about the member universities (information system) as well as co-operation with regional or national (concerning the member countries of the Alps Adriatic Region) or supraregional Rectors’ Conferences and specifically with their scientific committees, cultural commissions and offices, but also with the plenary assembly and the commission of leading officials of the regions, districts and cantons of the Alps Adriatic Region. This also applies to other regional, national international scientific institutions with special regard to the European Union.

Article 5

5.1 The meetings of the Rectors’ Conference are held as plenary assemblies. In order for decisions to be made, at least one third of the rectors, or their authorized delegates, must participate in the meeting.

5.2 Decisions are considered unanimous once Agreement has been reached on the different points of view. If unanimity is not achieved, the decisions are not binding on those member universities whose rectors have not endorsed those decisions.

5.3 The AARC plenary assembly is free to coopt other participants, holding no vote, for consultation.

Article 6

The AARC holds one regular meeting per year, properly in May. If necessary an extraordinary meeting can be called if at least one third of the members ask for it.

Article 7

7.1 According to the principles of equal representation and equal responsibility, the Presidency of the AARC shall rotate among the rectors of the member universities in the following order: member universities of Germany (Bavaria), Austria (Styria, Carinthia, Salzburg), Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Italy (Lombardia, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Friuli-Venezia Giulia), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Albania.

7.2 If one of the countries specified in 7.1 has less than three member universities within AARC, the member universities (or university) are (is) exempt once in two rotation cycles from this rotation except if they (it) wish(es) otherwise. In such case they (it) have (has) to communicate to the President and the Scientific Committee 6 months before the plenary assembly.

7.3 In AARC plenary assemblies rectors are charged to appoint the consecutive country, region, district or canton which is candidate for the Presidency, in accordance with the order established in 7.1.

7.4 The appointment of the President within the rectors of the candidate country, region, district or canton is autonomously agreed by the member universities of the candidate country, region, district or canton.

7.5 The AARC plenary assembly can overrule the order for particular and motivated reasons. In such event, candidate for the Presidency shall be the country, region, district or canton which comes immediately after the overruled one.

7.6 In order to ensure continuity and efficiency, the AARC President in charge is supported by a Vice-President (who is the forthcoming AARC President) and a permanent secretariat. The former AARC President is invited to voluntarily support the Presidency. The President, Vice-President and possibly former President form the AARC Presidency Office.

7.7 The permanent secretariat is appointed by the AARC plenary assembly against voluntary offer by a member university. The AARC permanent secretariat does not expire until revocation. It has supporting tasks in the field of administrative organization and communication (including: AARC website hosting and administration, networking with secretariats of other rectors. conferences and educational associations, and all initiatives dealing with the institutional charges of AARC). The permanent secretariat participates without vote in the meetings of the Scientific Committee as well as in the AARC plenary assemblies. Revocation can be disposed by the plenary assembly when permanent secretariat failed in accomplishing its tasks, or violated AARC Agreement and founding principles, or it simply wishes to withdraw from the charge.

Article 8

8.1 The university that is obliged to organise the meeting determines – in agreement with the Scientific Committee – the exact date and place of the meeting and announces it to all rectors of the member universities and to all members of the Scientific Committee not later than three months before the meeting.

8.2 The university calling the respective meeting proposes – in agreement with the Scientific Committee – the agenda. The invitation, the agenda and any accompanying documents must be sent one month before the meeting.

8.3 The President, who is the rector of the inviting university, chairs the meeting.

Article 9

9.1 The inviting university has to complete the minutes of the meeting, including as a minimum all decisions signed by the President and the person taking the minutes.

9.2 The minutes shall be written also in English.

9.3 During the meeting the assembly has to vote on the minutes of the last meeting which have to be sent to all rectors of the member universities and to all members of the Scientific Committee at the latest two months after the respective meeting.

Article 10

Each university is represented by the rector or by one of his/her authorized representatives. There has to be continuity in the representation of the rector.

Article 11

11.1 The President of the AARC can invite to the meeting representatives (deputies) of governments, communities, international organizations, commissions etc., who are not members of the AARC. They may take part in the discussions but they are not allowed to vote.

11.2 The preferred language for correspondence, meetings and documents is English. The inviting university may provide simultaneous interpretation for other languages as appropriate.

11.3 The inviting university is responsible for the preparation, execution and administrative expenses. The participants of the meetings pay for their journey, accommodation, etc., themselves.

Article 12

12.1 The AARC can appoint working groups and/or committees for certain assignments.

12.2 The AARC can decide and organize symposia, congresses and meetings (hereinafter meetings) as well as organize research projects under its patronage.

12.3 The following criteria apply to both conferences and research projects organized by the AARC or held under their patronage:

12.3.1 Approximately half a year before the respective meetings of the AARC or the Scientific Committee at which applications can be made, a detailed programme as well as the recommendation of at least one member university, in which the scientific character of the meeting is evident, have to be sent the Scientific Committee.

12.3.2 The topics must be of cultural, economic, political or general-scientific significance for the regions.

12.3.3 The organizer must commit himself/herself to publishing the seminar and discussion papers.

12.3.4 The patronage can be granted either by the AARC or by the Scientific Committee.

12.3.5 No financial support is intended from the means of the AARC for events and research projects which are only under their patronage.

12.3.6 In cases where meetings are organised by a university part of the expenses can be covered by contribution fees.

12.3.7 Each participant (or group) finances common scientific projects according to the extent of their participation.

12.3.8 The AARC and/or the Scientific Committee and/or each individual member university can and even should try to get further financial means from the state, regions, firms, interest groups, European Union etc.

12.3.9 The emblem of the AARC may be only used within the field of science if the AARC or the Scientific Committee are organizers or they have granted their patronage.

Article 13

13.1 The AARC welcomes and promotes the Students’ Conference, information and co-operation between these two conferences as well as between the students’ representatives, if possible of all member universities of the AARC.

13.2 The Students. Conference nominates two members as observers at the meetings of the Scientific Committee without the right to vote.

13.3 The Scientific Committee and the students’ conference shall exchange their minutes.

Article 14

This Agreement applies to all chartered member universities and to new member universities from the beginning of their membership.

Article 15

15.1 This Agreement was put into force at the plenary assembly of the AARC at the International University of Novi Pazar, of May 29, 2021. With it the Agreements of May 22, 2015 in Klagenfurt (University of Klagenfurt) cease to apply.

15.2 The text of this Agreement, written in English as the only official language, can be issued in all languages of the AARC members by the appropriate offices of the universities themselves.