Schedule (Section 2)
The Statutes of the University of Technology, Mauritius
1.Amendment of Statutes(1)Subject to this paragraph, the Board may amend the Statutes.(2)Any amendment to the Statutes shall require the prior approval of the Minister who may give or withhold his approval or remit the matter to the Board for further consideration.(3)Where an amendment to the Statutes has been approved by the Minister, the Board shall cause it to be published in the Gazette and it shall come into operation on the day of its publication or on such later day as may be specified in the amendment.2.Meetings of Board(1)In the absence of the President at a meeting of the Board, a member of the Board elected by the members present shall preside.(2)Where a member of the Board has an interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered by the Board, he shall—(a)as soon as practicable after the relevant facts have come to his knowledge, declare the nature of the interest; and(b)not be present during any deliberation with respect to that matter and not be entitled to vote on that matter.(3)A quorum is constituted by 6 members of the Board and no business may be transacted at a meeting of the Board unless there is a quorum.(4)Each member present at a meeting of the Board shall be entitled to one vote on a matter arising for decision at the meeting, and the person presiding at the meeting shall, in the event of an equality of votes, have a casting vote.(5)The Board shall meet at least once a month.(6)Subject to section 25 of this Act, a decision carried by a majority of the votes cast by the members present and voting at a meeting shall be a decision of the Board.(7)The Board may otherwise regulate its proceedings as it thinks fit.3.The Academic Council(1)The Academic Council shall consist of—(c)the Head of Information Services;(d)the Executive Director of the Tertiary Education Commission or his representative;(da)the Executive Director of the Quality Assurance Authority or his representative;(e)the Head of every other tertiary education institution or his representative;(f)3 persons appointed by the Board;(g)one person elected by and from the academic staff of each School;(h)one person elected by and from the students; and(i)one member of the Board, other than the President, appointed by the Board.(2)The Director-General shall be the Chairperson, and the Registrar shall be the Secretary, of the Academic Council.(3)The term of office of the members of the Academic Council referred to in subparagraph (1) (f) to (i) shall be 2 years and every such member shall be eligible for a fresh appointment or election for one more term of 2 years.(4)A person shall cease to be member of the Academic Council upon—(a)the completion of his term of office;(c)his ceasing to be a member of the academic staff of a School, a student or a member of the Board, as the case may be.(5)Where a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Academic Council not later than 3 months before the end of the member's team of office, the vacancy shall be filled by a person who shall hold office for the remainder of the term of office of the member in whose place he has been appointed or elected.(6)Half of the members of the Academic Council shall form a quorum.(7)The member of the Academic Council elected by and from the students shall not participate in the deliberations of the Academic Council on any matter pertaining to—(8)The Academic Council may otherwise regulate its proceedings as it thinks fit.(9)The powers and duties of the Academic Council shall, in addition to those set out in this Act, be to—(a)advise the Board on—(i)all academic matters including the control, general direction and management of any research or resource center or other teaching and research facility; and(ii)the institution, alteration, suspension or suppression of teaching posts and the qualifications and experience of the academic staff;(b)formulate, modify or revise schemes for the constitution or reconstitution of Schools and Departments;(c)make recommendations to the Board regarding—(i)postgraduate teaching and research;(ii)the qualifications to be presented for teaching;(iii)the conferment of honorary degrees or other distinctions;(iv)the institution and award of fellowships, scholarships, prizes and medals; and(v)the promotion of collaboration between the economic and public sectors and the University of Technology;(d)review and act upon the proposals of a School Board in formulating rules, regulations, syllabi and methods of evaluation, introducing new courses and modifying existing ones;(e)assess and make recommendations relating to standards of facilities, equipment, apparatus and maintenance required for each School and Department;(f)appoint external examiners;(g)issue instructions to examiners;(h)approve the results of examinations and the award of degrees, diplomas and other academic qualifications in accordance with the Statutes and the regulations; and(i)report to the Board on any matter referred to it by the Board.4.Planning and Finance Committee(1)The Planning and Finance Committee shall consist of—(a)a chairperson and 3 other members, other than the President, chosen by the Board from among its members;(b)the Director-General; and(c)the Head of Finance, who shall be the Secretary.(2)The Planning and Finance Committee shall make recommendations to the Board on—(a)the financial position of the University of Technology from time to time;(b)immediate, medium and long-term plans of the University of Technology taking into account the present and future needs of the country;(c)all other matters relating to planning and finance; and(d)such other matters on which it may be requested by the Board to report.(3)The Planning and Finance Committee shall meet at least 3 times a year.5.Staff Committee(1)The Staff Committee shall consist of—(a)a chairperson and 3 other members, other than the President, chosen by the Board from among its members;(c)such other persons, as may, in the opinion of the Staff Committee, be co-opted to assist in its deliberations.(2)The Staff Committee shall make recommendations to the Board for appointments to any office in the University of Technology other than that of Director-General.(3)The Staff Committee shall, in addition—(a)be responsible for staff matters, including conditions of service, criteria for the appointment, promotion, transfer of staff, discipline, welfare, staff development and training programmes; and(b)appoint a Disciplinary Committee.6.Convocation procedure(1)Degrees, diplomas and other academic qualifications upon persons entitled to receive them shall be conferred by the President at a Convocation.(2)A Convocation may be held on such date and time as the Board may determine.(3)The President or, in his absence, the Director-General shall declare each Convocation open and closed.(4)The proceedings of any Convocation shall otherwise be determined by the Board on the recommendation of the Academic Council.7.Schools(1)The Board may, on the recommendation of the Academic Council, set up such Schools or other academic units as it thinks fit in addition to those provided for in this Act.(2)Every School or other academic unit referred to in subsection (1) shall comprise such Departments or other units as the School Board may determine to which such course of study as may be deemed appropriate shall be allocated.(3)Every School Board shall consist of—(b)the Head of Information Services or a person nominated by him;(c)the Heads of Departments of the School;(d)such other members of the academic staff as may be co-opted for such period as the School Board may in each case determine;(e)one person elected by and from the students at the school; and(f)3 persons appointed by the Board from outside the University of Technology with experience in the areas of operation of the school.(4)The functions of a School Board shall be to—(a)coordinate the teaching and research work in the school;(b)recommend to the Academic Council—(i)regulations for schemes of instruction, study and research allocated to the school;(ii)names of external examiners; and(iii)students for the award of degrees, diplomas and other academic qualifications in the subjects of the school;(c)consider schemes for the advancement of the standards of teaching and research, and submit such proposals to the Academic Council;(d)promote research within the school and submit reports on research to the Academic Council; and(e)perform such other functions which may be provided for in this Act, the Statutes or the regulations and consider all such matters as may be referred to it by the Academic Council or the Director-General.(5)Half the members of the School Board shall form a quorum.(6)(a)Meetings of a School Board shall be Ordinary or Special.(b)Ordinary meetings shall be held at least once monthly.(c)Special meetings may be called by the Head of School or shall be called at the suggestion of the Director-General or on a written request from at least one fifth of the members of the School Board.(7)The minutes of proceedings of each School Board shall be circulated to the members of the Academic Council for information.8.The Director General(1)The Director-General shall—(a)hold office for a period of 5 years renewable for any further period and on such terms and conditions as the Board may determine;(b)in the absence of the President, preside at a Convocation and confer degrees, diplomas or other academic qualifications upon persons entitled to receive them;(c)exercise control over the affairs of the University of Technology; and(d)ensure the faithful observance of the provisions of this Act, the Statutes and the regulations.(2)The Director-General may delegate any of his powers and duties, other than this power of delegation, to any person or body of persons.(3)In the absence of the Director-General, the Board may appoint a person (whether or not a member of the Board) to act as Director-General.(4)The Acting Director-General shall have all the powers and duties of the Director-General.9.Heads of School(1)Every Head of School shall be appointed by the Board on the recommendation of the Staff Committee for a period of 3 years and he may be eligible for reappointment on such terms and conditions as the Board may determine.(2)A Head of School shall—(a)be the Chairperson of the School Board;(b)coordinate and generally supervise the teaching and research work in the School through Heads of the Departments;(c)maintain discipline through the Heads of Departments;(d)arrange for examinations in respect of the students at the school in accordance with such directions as may be given by the Academic Council;(e)select persons to be registered as students for following schemes of instruction, study or research allocated to the school;(f)have the right to be present and to speak at any meeting of any committees of the school, but shall not have the right to vote unless he is a member thereof; and(g)perform such other academic or administrative duties as may be assigned to him by the Board, the Academic Council or the Director-General.10.Registrar(1)The Board shall appoint a Registrar on the recommendation of the Staff Committee on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.(2)The duties of the Registrar shall be to—(a)act as Secretary to the Board, the Staff Committee, the Academic Council and the School Boards and shall keep minutes of their meetings, but he shall not be deemed to be a member of any of these bodies;(b)be the custodian of the records, the common seal, and such other property of the University of Technology as the Board shall commit to his charge;(c)arrange for the conduct of examinations;(d)issue all advices convening meetings of the Board, the Staff Committee, the Academic Council, the School Boards, Boards of Examiners and of any committees appointed by the authorities of the University of Technology;(e)conduct the official correspondence of the Board and the Academic Council; and(f)perform such other duties as may be specified in the Statutes or the regulations or may be required from time to time by the Board or the Director-General.(3)The Registrar may delegate any of the duties of the Registrar, other than this power of delegation, to any other member of the staff.11.The Head of Finance(1)The Board shall appoint a Head of Finance on the recommendation of the Staff Committee on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.(2)The duties of the Head of Finance shall be to—(a)prepare for the consideration of the Board the estimates of income and expenditure of the University of Technology for each financial year;(b)collect all fees, and other monies due to the University of Technology, give receipts for the same and account for all sums so received in such form as the Board may from time to time direct;(c)exercise general supervision over the funds and advise the Board as regards its financial policy;(d)arrange for the annual and any special auditing of the accounts;(e)call for explanations for any unauthorised expenditure or other financial irregularity and suggest disciplinary action against persons at fault;(f)call from any office or unit any information or return that he may consider necessary for the performance of his duties; and(g)perform such other financial functions as may be assigned to him by the Board, the Director-General or as may be specified in the Statutes.12.The Head of Information Services(1)The Board shall appoint a Head of Information Services on the recommendation of the Staff Committee on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.(2)The duties of the Head of Information Services shall include responsibility for—(a)the provision of information resources in printed and electronic form to support the staff and students in teaching, learning, research and consultancy;(b)the provision of an information technology infrastructure to support the staff and students in teaching, learning, research and consultancy;(c)the provision of appropriate methods of access to the information resources and the information technology infrastructure by the staff and students;(d)the security of the information resources and the information technology infrastructure; and(e)advising the Board on—(i)appropriate rules and regulations to govern access to the information resources and the information technology infrastructure by the staff and students; and(ii)appropriate technical standards to be adopted for the information technology infrastructure.13.Manager of Consultancy and Technology Transfer(1)The Board shall appoint a Manager of Consultancy and Technology Transfer on the recommendation of the Staff Committee on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.(2)The duties of the Manager of Consultancy and Technology Transfer shall be to—(a)implement and assist in the development of the consultancy and technology transfer policy of the University of Technology;(b)work closely with the academic and other units for the marketing of the skills and expertise of the University of Technology; and(c)communicate the skills and expertise of the University of Technology to industry, commerce and public sector agencies.14.Conduct of ballots(1)The elections to membership on any of the bodies referred to in this Act or the Statutes shall be carried out at an appropriate time fixed by the Registrar during semester time.(2)For each election, a returning officer shall be designated by the Registrar.(3)Any person entitled to be nominated and to vote in any election referred to in subparagraph (1) shall be an eligible person.(4)(a)Not less than 4 weeks before the date of an election, the Registrar shall invite persons entitled to vote in that election to submit nominations of person eligible to stand for election in writing.(b)Nominations shall be in the hands of the Registrar not less than 3 weeks before the date of the election.(5)If the number of valid nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, there shall be an election. Voting shall be by secret ballot and shall be organised by the Registrar.(6)Electors shall vote by placing the same number of crosses on the ballot paper as there are vacancies. Ballot papers with more or fewer crosses shall be invalid. Counting shall be done by the returning officer who shall also announce the result.(7)In the event of a tie, the returning officer shall decide by lot between the candidates tying, without disclosing that there has been a tie. The returning officer shall not disclose the number of votes cast, either in whole or for any candidate.15.Association of students(1)Where the students wish to form an association which is to be recognised by the Board as representative of their interests, they shall be required to forward to the Board a copy of the proposed rules of the association for approval.(2)Where any rules referred to in subparagraph (1) have been approved, every amendment shall also be required to be forwarded to the Board for approval.