CHARTER OF AFRICAN UNION UNIVERSITY

Dated 24th February 2020

Revised: 22nd April 2020, 17th September 2021, 29th June 2022, 20th November 2022, 16th October 2023, 21st October 2023, 1st January 2024, 19th June 2024, 15th October 2024, 30th December 2024, 3rd of February, 2025, 7th of July, 2025 and 6th of April, 2026.

WHEREAS Approval has been given to Us by the Governing Council of African Union University, International (AUU International) and by others praying Us to erect within the said City for the promotion of Arts, Sciences and Learning a University and to grant a Charter with such appropriate provisions therein in that behalf as shall seem to Us meet and fit.

AND WHEREAS We have taken the said Approval and Consent into Our Royal consideration and are minded to accede thereto.

NOW THEREFORE KNOW YE that We by Virtue of Our Royal Prerogative in that behalf and all other powers enabling Us so to do of Our special grace certain knowledge and mere motion by these Presents do for Us Our Heirs and Successors grant will direct and ordain as follows:

1.  Foundation of African Union University, International (AUU International)

There shall be from henceforth forever in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, and other countries around the world a University by the name and style of "African Union University - AUU International" with its research centre/head office in Nigeria.  The University is operated by AUU International Academy Limited under the leadership of its Founders which include, Professor Ehi Eric Esoimeme Esq. (AUUI President/Director General), Mr. Marcellin Gomez (AUUI Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer), Mr. Jannot Bandou (AUUI Director of Operations) and Paul Allieu Kamara (Regional Director, West Africa). The University is supported by Moraheyms Sarlu Limited.

2. Corporate Body

The Pan African University is hereby created and from henceforth for ever shall be one body politic and corporate with perpetual succession and a Common Seal by the name and style of "AUU International Academy” also known as “African Union University - AUU International)” with full power and capacity by and in such name to sue and be sued and to take and hold and to do all other lawful acts whatsoever.

3.  University objects

The objects of the university shall be-

• to encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction the opportunity of acquiring a higher education;

• to provide courses of instruction and other facilities for the pursuit of learning in all its branches, and to make those facilities available on proper terms to such persons as are equipped to benefit from them;

• to encourage, promote and conduct research in all fields of learning and human endeavour; and

• to undertake any other activities appropriate for a university of the highest standard.

4. Establishment of Colleges and Academies within the University

There shall be established within the University as an integral part thereof, a College of Education and Academy which shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.

The objects of the College of Education and Academy shall be-

(a) to provide courses of instruction leading to degrees, diplomas, certificates and other university distinctions in medical studies and such related studies as may be prescribed;

(b) to provide special training courses, whether leading to university distinctions or not, for such persons as may be prescribed, taking into account at all times the requirements of the Federal Ministry of Health;

(c) to conduct research, with particular reference to research in the field of medical science;

(d) to arrange conferences, seminars, study groups and like activities; and

(e) to perform such other functions as may be conferred on it by statute.

5. Governing Council 

The supreme governing body of the University shall be the Governing Council and, subject to this Charter, the Statutes of the University and the Law of the Realm, the Governing Council shall have absolute power within the University and shall have the government and control of the finances of the University and of the good order, practical affairs, business and work of the University. The Governing Council appoints the University’s principal officers, deans and professors. Decisions of special importance for the long-term future of the University have to be approved by the Governing Council.

The Governing Council is responsible to the President & Director General and is chaired by Pro-Chancellor1/Pro-Chancellor2, where the President & Director General is not present and delegates the responsibility. The Pro-Chancellor shall, except when the President is present, preside at its meetings and shall perform such other functions as shall be prescribed by Law. The members of the Governing Council comprising the President & Director General, the Pro-Chancellor1 & Chairman, Pro-Chancellor 2 & Vice Chairman, Academic Director, Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Registrar/Secretary to Council, Ex-officio Member/Bursar and other prominent members appointed by the Governing Council to serve are hereby created and from henceforth for ever shall be the highest decision-making body of the University with full power and capacity to make decisions.   

In pursuant of this statutory mandate, the Governing Council operates through a Committee System as follows:

• Appointments, Promotions and General Purposes Committee (A&PC) chaired by Professor Ehi Eric Esoimeme, the Chairman and Permanent Member of the Governing Council: Handles the recruitment, confirmation, promotion, and discipline of academic and senior administrative staff. The Committee also handles the general administration of the University.

• Finance Committee (FC) chaired by Mr. Marcellin Gomez, a Permanent member of the Governing Council: Often the most crucial committee, it manages the finances and property, and general administration.

• Budget/Project Monitoring and Evaluation Committee chaired by Mr. Jannot Bandou, a Permanent member of the Governing Council: Manages and evaluates University projects and operations.

• University Investment Committee: chaired by Mr. Jannot Bandou, a Permanent member of the Governing Council: Manages and evaluates the investments of the University.

• Disciplinary Committee (or Council Committee on Staff Discipline) chaired by Professor Paul Allieu Kamara, a Permanent Member of the Governing Council: Addresses misconduct cases among staff and, in some cases, students.

• Development Committee/Physical Planning and Works Committee chaired by Professor Ehi Eric Esoimeme Esq., a Member of the Governing Council: Supervises university infrastructural development, capital projects, and maintenance. 

6.  Functions of the Chancellor and Pro Chancellor

(1) The Chancellor shall, in relation to the University, take precedence before all other members of the University, and when he is present shall preside at all meetings of Congregation held for conferring degrees and at all meetings of Convocation.

(2) The Pro-Chancellor shall, in relation to the University, take precedence before all other members of the University except the Chancellor and except the Vice-Chancellor when acting as chairman of Congregation or Convocation and except the Deputy Vice-Chancellor when so acting; and the Pro-Chancellor shall, when he is present, be the chairman at all meetings of the Council. 

7.  Functions of the Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Dean/Sub-Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies

There shall be a Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor who is in charge of designing the academic policies, procedures and processes of the said University, reviewing/approving all degree programmes by ensuring that quality assurance is maintained and coordinating academic programmes for the University, including teaching and supervising students. The Vice-Chancellor shall be a person who has held the post of professor, or principal of a college or an academic institution with not less than fifteen years teaching or research experience. 

There shall be a Registrar who acts as the Chief Administrative Officer of the University, working directly under the superintendence, direction and control of the Vice-Chancellor. The Registrar is the appointing and disciplinary authority of certain sections of employees of the University custodian of records and common seal of the University prepares and updates the Handbook of the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations. The Registrar is also responsible for documenting the name and profile of every student who has been granted academic approval by the Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor.

Where the Registrar is unavoidably absent, the Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor shall function as the Registrar.

There shall be a Dean/Sub-Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies who works closely with the Director of Academics and International Relations and Deans of Faculties to coordinate postgraduate academic programmes, and teach and supervise students.

The Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Dean/Sub-Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies and Deans of Faculties of AUU International appointed on a full-time basis are principal members of the Academic Board.

8.  The Senate/Academic Board

The Senate/Academic Board which includes the Director of Academics, Director of Research, the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar, Dean/Sub-Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies and the Deans of Faculties appointed on a full time basis shall be headed by the Vice Chancellor and decisions shall be made on a two-third majority vote where a quorum of at least three Board Members are present in a meeting.  

It shall be the general function of the Senate to organise and control the teaching of the University and the admission and discipline of students, and to promote research at the University.

it shall in particular be the function of the senate to make provision for-

(a) the establishment, organisation and control of faculties, schools, institutes, and other teaching units of the University, and the allocation of responsibility for different branches of learning;

(b) the organisation and control of courses of study at the University and of the examinations held in conjunction with those courses, including the appointment of examiner, both internal and external;

(c) the award of degrees, and such other qualifications as may be prescribed, in connection with examinations held as aforesaid;

(d) the making of recommendations to the Council with respect to the award to any person of an honorary fellowship or honorary degree or the title of professor emeritus;

(e) the selection of persons for admission as students of the University;

(f) the establishment, organisation and control of halls of residence and similar institutions at the University;

(g) the supervision of the welfare of students at the University and the regulations of their conduct;

(h) the granting of fellowships, scholarships, prizes and similar awards, in so far as the awards are within the control of the University; and

(i) determining what descriptions of dress shall be academic dress for the purposes of the University, and regulating the use of academic dress.

The Senate shall not establish any new faculty, school, institute or other teaching units of the University, or any hall of residence or similar institution at the University, without the approval of the Council.

Subject to this Act and the statutes, the Senate may make regulations for the purpose of exercising any function conferred on it either by the foregoing provisions of this section or otherwise or for the purpose of making provision for any matter for which provision by regulations is authorised or required by this Act or by statute.

Regulations shall provide that at least one of the persons appointed as the examiners at each final or professional examination held in conjunction with any course of study of the University is not a teacher at the University but is a teacher of the branch of learning to which the course relates at some other university of high repute.

Subject to a right of appeal to the Council from a decision of the Senate under this subsection, and to the Chancellor from a decision of the council on such an appeal, the Senate may deprive any person of any degree, diploma or other award of the University which has been conferred upon him if after the due enquiry he is shown to have been guilty of dishonourable or scandalous conduct in obtaining that award.

9.  University powers

The University may confer Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and other academic distinctions whether honorary, substantive, dual, joint or otherwise and such Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and other academic distinctions shall be conferred and held subject to any such provisions as may be made by the Statutes and Ordinances of the University.

The University may revoke Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and other academic distinctions whether honorary, substantive, dual, joint or otherwise where the recipient of the Degrees fails to pay the outstanding tuition fees or other fees as required by the University or where the recipient of the Degrees obtained the degrees under false pretence or misrepresentation of facts.

AUU International Certificates are only valid when they are signed by the President/Vice President of the University and/or the Chairperson of the AUU International Academic Board or Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of AUU International and/or Head of Academic Records and stamped by the University Headquarters.  Certificates issued by Officers other than the Officers mentioned here are invalid. The same applies to all legally binding documents emanating from the University, including but not limited to Academic Handbooks, Curriculum, Course Outlines, Memorandum of Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding. 

The University shall have power to co-operate by means of Joint Boards or otherwise with other universities, authorities and bodies whether public or private for any of the purposes of the University.

The University may admit to affiliation with it or to any of its privileges any educational establishment or institution or the members or students thereof upon such terms and conditions and subject to such regulations as may from time to time be prescribed by the Ordinances of the University.

The University may establish strategic partnerships with registered and accredited Institutions and Universities for academic research and exchange of faculties. The names of approved academic partners will be listed in the International Charter and it will be updated from time to time. The current approved partnerships being the University of Management – TISBI, Global Academy of Finance and Management, Hamar University, Nightingale College of Health and Social Science, Daaru Salaam University (DSU), Global Humanistic University, Global Interfaith University, E-Four and AAF and Sierra Hope Medical and Fertility Center.

10.  Equal opportunities and Renumeration

The University promotes equal opportunities and shall exercise no discrimination on the grounds of political opinion, age, colour, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, marital status, race, religion or sexual orientation in the admission of students, or the appointment or promotion of staff or the awarding of any Degree, Diploma or Certificate, or generally, in the execution of any of its Objects as laid down by the Charter.

The financial regulations of the University as approved by the Governing Council shall govern the financial affairs of the University.

11.  Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations

The Governing Council may from time to time make Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations for the University which:

(1)    carry into effect this Charter and its provisions;

(2)    regulate and govern the affairs, business, work and interests of the University including its constituent parts and members;

(3)    regulate and govern the status, appointment and removal of the Principal officers and members of the University; and

(4)    shall promote the objects of the said African Union University (AUU International).

The Statutes of the University shall be those scheduled to this Our Charter and they are hereby declared to be valid and within the powers of this Article of Our Charter conferred.

The Statutes shall specify a procedure to add to, amend, alter or repeal the Statutes from time to time in force. The power to make Statutes shall not be limited by or with reference to existing or any subsequent Statutes or the several subject matters therein dealt with.

Any Statutes to be hereinafter made which are not repugnant to the provisions of this Our Charter or the Laws of the Realm shall be operative and have effect when allowed by Us or by any Committee of Our Most Honourable Privy Council and not before. Such allowance shall be conclusive evidence of the Statutes so allowed being authorised by the provisions of this Charter.

12.  Variation of the Charter

The Governing Council under the leadership of the Pro Chancellor may, after the Senate shall have provided an opinion thereon, at any time alter or amend or add to this Our Charter and its provisions by a Special Resolution passed and confirmed in accordance with the Statutes. Such alteration, amendment or addition shall only become effectual when allowed by Us, Our Heirs or Successors under the sign manual or otherwise as We or They shall deem meet, so that this Our Charter shall thereafter continue and operate as though it had been originally granted and made as so altered, amended or added to. This Article of this Our Charter shall thereafter apply to this Charter as so altered, amended or added to.

Signed: AUU International Governing Council