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Statutes
eument-net
European Network of Mentoring Programmes for the Advancement
of Equal Opportunities and Cultural and Institutional Change in
Academia and Research
I. Name and Seat
The “European Network of Mentoring Programmes for the Advancement of Equal
Opportunities and Cultural and Institutional Change in Academia and Research” (eumentnet)
is a simple partnership-association (with no shared legal obligations) of mentoring
programs linked to academic or research institutions. The association has its address at the
institution of its current Chair.
II. Purpose and Activities
(1) The association aims at promoting the advancement of equal opportunities and women’s
careers and access to decision making positions in academia and research in Europe
through mentoring as part of institutional, national and European strategies for HR
development and institutional and cultural change in academia and research. To this aim,
the association
a. highlights the role of mentoring as a tool for the promotion of cultural and institutional
change, gender equality and women in academia and research and promotes the
transfer of knowledge and expertise between mentoring programmes and
stakeholders, especially in countries where mentoring programmes and gender
equality policies in general in academia and research are still scarce;
b. fosters the exchange of experience among mentoring programmes in academia and
research (hereafter: mentoring programmes) and facilitates their continuous
improvement through support of knowledge management, exchange of expertise and
best practice;
c. facilitates cooperation among its members and the promotion of new mentoring
services and activities in line with the aim of the association, such as seminars,
conferences and publications, as well as an international mentoring exchange and
projects;
d. increases the visibility of its member programmes on an institutional, national and
European, as well as international level;
e. strives to put mentoring as part of gender equality policies and wider HR strategies in
academia and research on institutional, national and European science policy
agendas.
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(2) The association establishes adequate relations with other organisations pursuing similar
or related aims and supports their activities.
(3) The association provides, among other services such as consulting and support of
mentoring programmes coordinators, a website for both current and potential new
members of the eument-net with a view to ensure mutual learning and exchange of
experience among network members. Members can advertise there their programs and
find relevant materials.
III. Membership
(1) Full members can be academic or research institutions, who coordinate a mentoring
programme promoting cultural and institutional change in academia and research who
recognize the purpose of the association and are ready to promote it. The rights of Full
members include the rights to:
a. participate in debates and votes at the General assembly;
b. put forward candidates for election to the organisational structures of the Association;
c. participate in all eument-net cooperation activities, according to conditions defined for
the specific activity;
d. be informed about the Association’s activities.
(2) Associate members can be individuals or institutions, who recognize the purpose of the
association and are ready to promote it and who either consider setting up a mentoring
programme promoting cultural and institutional change in academia or research, or have
specific scientific or professional expertise related to the aim of the Association. The
rights of Associate members include the right to:
a. participate in debates and votes at the General Assembly;
b. put forward candidates for election to the organisational structures of the Association;
c. participate in eument-net cooperation activities, according to conditions defined for
the specific activity;
d. be informed about the Association’s activities.
(3) The executive committee decides over the provisional admission of members on the
basis of a written request (could be delivered via email). Provisional admission takes
place with immediate effect. It must be confirmed by the General Assembly.
(4) Membership fee is € 70.00 per year. Upon request, fee can be waived or reduced by
Executive Committee in justified cases. Membership fee must be paid starting from the
year in which membership is confirmed by the General assembly.
(5) Membership expires through:
a. Resignation;
b. exclusion.
(6) Resignation takes place by means of written explanation to the Chair at least six months
before the end of the calendar year (could be delivered via email). Exclusion can namely
take place if a member acts against the interests of the association. The exclusion
becomes effective only after hearing the member, and is communicated by writing. The
provisional exclusion takes immediate effect. It must be confirmed by the General
Assembly.
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IV. Organs
The elements of the association are:
A. The General Assembly
B. The Executive Committee
C. The Auditors
A. General Assembly
(1) The General Assembly consists of authorised representatives of Full and Associate
members.
(2) The General Assembly is the highest authority of the Association. The tasks and authority
of the General Assembly are the following:
a) Setting of priorities and the annual work programme of the Association;
b) Approbation of minutes of the last General Assembly;
c) Approbation of the annual report, the annual account and the report of the Auditors;
d) Discharge of the Executive committee and the Auditors;
e) Setting of the annual budget and annuities;
f) Election of the Chair, the Vice Chair, the Treasurer and the Auditor;
g) Admission and exclusion of members;
h) Treatment of requests on the part of of Full and Associate members;
i) Decision over important issues, submitted by Full and Associate members;
j) Change of the Association’s statutes;
k) Adoption of policy statements and position papers;
l) Dissolution of the association.
(3) The Ordinary General Assembly takes place annually. The invitation for the General
Assembly is sent at least 40 days in advance by writing or by electronic communication
via the Executive committee. The notification will set out the agenda items, the location,
the date and time of the General Assembly. Requests to the General Assembly are to be
sent to the Chair of the Executive committee at least two weeks before the General
Assembly takes place.
(4) An extraordinary General Assembly is called by the Executive committee, upon request
of at least one fifth of the members or upon the Auditor’s request. The invitation has to
take place at least 15 days before the meeting. The notification will set out the agenda
items, the location, the date and time of the General Assembly.
(5) Decisions are taken by simple majority. A secret ballot takes place only if requested
expressly by the majority of the present members. In case of equal votes, the Chair
decides.
B. Executive Committee
(1) The Executive committee consists of a minimum of three members, including the Chair,
the Vice-Chair and the Treasurer, elected by the General Assembly for a tenure of two
years. The Executive committee will not consist of members from the same geographical
region. Each member of the Executive committee has one vote.
(2) The Executive committee is composed of:
a) a Chair;
b) a Vice-chair;
c) a Treasurer;
It is not allowed simultaneously to hold more than one position.
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(3) The Executive committee has the following powers and responsibilities:
a) Preparing the annual Work plan of the association;
b) Preparing the Association’s annual budget and accounts;
c) Preparing the General Assembly;
d) Ensuring effective management of the association
e) Supervising on an ongoing basis the finances of the Association in accordance with its
budget;
f) Making decisions on the representation of the Association on the occasion of external
meetings and events;
g) Provisional admission and exclusion of members.
(4) The Executive Committee represents the association. The association is validly
committed by the joint signatures of the president and another member of the Executive
committee.
(5) The Executive committee meets at least twice a year (before general assembly, at the
general assembly). Meetings by teleconference are valid.
C. Auditors
(1) The General assembly may designate a natural person or legal entity who does not have
to be a member of the association, as auditor for a term of office of two years. A reelection
is possible.
(2) The financial year coincides with the calendar year. On 31st December, the annual
account is locked and an inventory is provided. The annual account is examined by the
auditor. The auditor gives a written report to the General Assembly recommending to
grant or to refuse the discharge of the treasurer and the Executive Committee.
V. Financial Resources and Liability
(1) The financial resources of the association arise from the annuities of the members, from
surplus of annual accounts, from project credits, from possible donations, conference
fees, legacies, etc.
(2) The commitments of the association are exclusively guaranteed by its financial
resources. Any personal liability of its members is excluded.
VI. Amendment of the Statutes and Dissolution
(1) For an amendment of the statutes or the dissolution of the association to take place, the
presence of at least two thirds of all members as well as the absolute majority of the
votes are necessary. If one of the quorums is not reached, a second General Assembly
with the same agenda is to be called within eight weeks. At that second General
Assembly – regardless of the number of present members - decisions can be made on
the same agenda issues as the first General Assembly with a majority of at least twothirds
of the votes. The second General Assembly by teleconference is valid.
(2) In the case of the dissolution of the association, the General Assembly decides upon the
use of the liquidation proceeds.