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Home: Duties, guidelines and objectives

Functions, guidelines and targets of the Rectors' Conference of the Alps-Adriatic universities.

Foundation of the Rectors' Conferences of the Alps-Adriatic working groups

In 1979, o.Univ.-Pro. Dr. Anton Kolb, the then Rector (Vice-Chancellor), founded the Rectors' Conference of the Alps Adriatic Universities. The Rectors' Conference includes the vice-chancellors and presidents of the universities and colleges of the entire region of the Alps Adriatic Working Community*. At present, this comprises 48 universities or colleges.

The aim and purpose of founding the Rectors' Conference was to enable collaboration between the universities and colleges and to seize the diverse opportunities available for scientific, artistic and future-oriented cooperation.

Issues of cultural, scientific, political or general importance are dealt with in the form of symposia and research projects.

*The Alps-Adriatic Working Community was founded in Venice in 1978 and was at first known as the 'Working Community of the Countries and regions of the Regions of the Eastern Alps'. At that time it had nine member regions - now it has nineteen; as was the case then, today a distinction is made between members and active observers.

In 1981 the Rectors' Conference established an 'Agreement on its Working Method' and founded a Scientific Advisory Council.

The Rectors' Conference and Scientific Advisory Council are the essential tools for scientific collaboration within the working community. The Rectors' Conference usually meets once a year and adopts all important resolutions. The Scientific Advisory Council meets at least twice a year and provides continuous work.

In 1988 Prof. Anton Kolb was elected honorary president for life by the Rectors' Conference.

In 1997 a new 'Agreement on the Working Method of the Rectors' Conference' was agreed and put into force.

AGREEMENT

On the Rectors' Conference of the Universities of the Alps Adriatic Region (AARC)

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 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.

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 chair person 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.

Article 2

2.1 The following universities are chartered members of the AARC:

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg (University of Bamberg)

Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (Karl-Franzens University of Graz)

Technische Universität Graz (Erzherzog-Johann-University)

Montanuniversität Leoben (University of Leoben)

Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz (University for Music and Art, Graz)

Alpen-Adria Universität Klagenfurt (University of Klagenfurt)

Universität Salzburg (University of Salzburg)

Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst "Mozarteum" in Salzburg (Mozarteum of 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)

Univerza v Ljubljani (University of Ljubljana)

Univerza v Mariboru (University of Maribor)

Univerza na Primorskem (University of Primorska)

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

Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (University for Architecture, Venice)

Università degli Studi di Padova (University of Padua)

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 Bologna (University of Bologna)

Università degli Studi di Modena (University of Modena)

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

Pécsi Tudományegyetem, (University of Pécs)

Pannon Egyetem Veszprém (Pannon University of Veszprém)

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.

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.

3.5 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.

3.6 The rules of Article 9 on minutes also apply to the meetings of the Scientific Committee.

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, efficiency, 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. At least half of the rectors, or their authorized representatives, of the member universities must participate, in order for decisions to be made. The quorum is composed by the rectors who accept and confirm the invitation letter sent by the organizing university.

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.

Article 6

The AARC holds one regular meeting per year. If necessary an extraordinary meeting can be called if at least three members ask for it. These must belong, however, to at least two different regions as mentioned in Art. 1.1. In this case the meeting is chaired by the chair person of the Rectors' Conference who was due to chair the next meeting.

Article 7

The meetings should alternate among the member countries and also within the universities. The participants of the meetings agree which university from a given region will organize the next meeting.

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 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 chairperson 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 chairperson 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 meeting of the AARC in Klagenfurt of May 10, 2008. With it the Agreements of April 25 and 26, 1997 in Portorož cease to apply.

15.2 The text of this Agreement, written in English, has to be issued in all languages of the AARC members by the appropriate offices of the universities themselves.

10.5.2008