AUU International Charter

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 and 7th of July, 2025.

WHEREAS Approval has been given to Us by the Governing Council of African Union University (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 Singapore, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and USA a University by the name and style of "African Union University (AUU International) with its research centre/head office in Nigeria and partner campuses in Seirra Leone, Liberia and other parts of the Pan African continent.  The University was founded by the principal members of the Governing Council. 

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 "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. 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 members of the Governing Council comprising the Pro Chancellor/President, Pro Vice Chancellor/Vice President, Vice Chancellor/Academic Director, Registrar 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. 

4.  University objects

The University shall be both a teaching and an examining University and shall further the prosecution of original research.

5. Pro Chancellor/President and Pro Vice Chancellor/Vice President

There shall be a Pro Chancellor/President and Pro Vice Chancellor/Vice President of the said University who, subject to the Statutes and Ordinances of the University, shall act in this capacity as Permanent Members of the Governing Council. 

The Pro Chancellor/President and Pro Vice Chancellor/Vice President shall be persons who have held the post of professor, or principal of a college or an academic institution with not less than fifteen years teaching or research experience.

The AUUI Governing Council is the highest decision making body of the University. The Pro Chancellor/President of the University is Professor Ehi Eric Esoimeme Esq. while the Pro Vice Chancellor/Vice President is Professor Paul Allieu Kamara. 

6.  The Chancellor

There shall be a Chancellor of the said University who, subject to the Statutes and Ordinances of the University, shall act for the Chancellor. 

The 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.

The Chancellor shall be ex-officio head of the University.

The Chancellor shall participate in the Academic Board meetings and attend academic events and networking with other researchers and field experts.

The Chancellor shall also create awareness about AUU International and refer Students to AUU International.

The Chancellor of the University is Bishop Professor Mugume Bagambaki Richard, Ecclesiastical Episcopal conference Presiding Bishop of Upper City Covenant Churches. 

7.  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.  Regional Directors and Country Directors/Representatives

There shall be Regional Directors and Country Directors/Representatives to be determined by the Governing Council from time to time. The Country Directors/Representatives or, in the case of there being more than one Country Representative, one of those so appointed by the Academic Board, subject to the Statutes and Ordinances of the University shall act to solidify regional and international partnerships and refer students to the said University.

The Vice Chancellor shall, in consultation with the Governing Council, appoint Regional Directors for other Regions from time to time. 

The Regional Directors and Country Directors are required to Create Awareness about AUU International in their region/country of jurisdiction and refer Students to AUU International. In addition, Regional Directors and Country Directors are required to work closely with our Director of Academics and International Relations to register AUU International in their region/country of jurisdiction and establish affiliations and partnerships with reputable Institutions for AUU International, and attend academic events and networking with other researchers and field experts. Notwithstanding the requirements stated above, Regional Directors and Country Directors may decide to perform one or all of the responsibilities conferred on them by the Letter of Appointment issued to them by the AUU International Governing Council. However, where a Regional Director or Country Director decides to perform a responsibility requiring certain investments to be made, the cost implications should be disclosed to the AUU International Governing Council before the project is initiated, and approval must be granted before the Regional Director or Country Director proceeds with the project. Where the project and cost are approved, Section 10 of this Charter on Renumeration will bind the agreement. 

The tenure for appointments of Regional Directors and Country Directors shall be for a period of three years, provided, however, that the University may renew the appointments after the expiration period for another three years.

Notwithstanding anything in this section, the appointee and/or the University may terminate the appointment by giving a 30 days notice to the University and by payment of any outstanding amount due.

9.  The Academic Board and Deans of Faculties

The Academic Board which includes the Pro Chancellor/President, Pro Vice Chancellor/Vice President, Chancellor, the Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor, the Registrar, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean/Sub-Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies and the Deans of Faculties appointed on a full time basis shall be headed by the Director of Academics and International Relations/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.  

Statutes of the University shall regulate the performance of the duties of the Academic Board, the election and continuance in office of the members of the Academic Board and delegation of the Board’s powers and all other matters relative to the Board which it may be thought are proper to be so regulated.

The Vice Chancellor shall, in consultation with the Governing Council, appoint Deans of Faculties from time to time.

The tenure for appointments of Deans of Faculties shall be for a period of three years, provided, however, that the University may renew the appointments after the expiration period for another three years.

Notwithstanding anything in this section, the appointee and/or the University may terminate the appointment by giving a 30 days notice and by payment of any outstanding amount due.

10. The Senate

There shall be a Senate of the University which shall subject to this Charter and in accordance with the Ordinances of the University be responsible to the Governing Council and Academic Board for regulating and directing the academic work of the University in teaching, examining and research and for the award of all Degrees, Diplomas, Certificates and other academic distinctions of the University and for the discipline of the students of the University.

11.  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, University of Zambia, E-Four and AAF and Sierra Hope Medical and Fertility Center.

12.  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.

As it relates to renumeration, twenty percent of the funds received as tuition for academic programmes will be used to pay the lecturers who have been approved by the Academic Board to teach a particular Course, and who actually teach these Courses. If there is more than one lecturer being approved to teach a Course, the 20 percent will be shared among them accordingly with a fixed amount designated as quarterly payment of salary or teaching fee. Please note that part time Lecturers and Professors with Appointment Letters from the AUU International Academic Board will receive Part Time Teaching Appointment Contracts where Students are available for the Courses. The Semester Courses, Period, Date and Remuneration shall be stated in the Part Time Teaching Appointment Contract. These Contracts only become valid after they are signed by both the Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor and the Lecturer/Professor. For clarity, Part Time Teaching Appointment Contracts will be issued for every Semester Course that will be administered. However, where the University has a Memorandum of Understanding with other Universities for programmes coordinated by only the Partner Universities, the Partner Universities will issue out the Part Time Teaching Appointment Contracts. Part Time Teaching Appointment Contracts are only issued to faculty members already confirmed by the Letter of Appointment issued by the Chairperson of the AUU International Academic Board.

With regards to tuition fees paid by students for the AUUI postgraduate programmes, undergraduate programmes, certification programmes or other academic programmes, the Pro Chancellor shall be entitled to twenty percent of all funds received as tuition for his position as President of the University. The Pro Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to twenty percent of all funds received as tuition for his role as Vice President of the University. The remaining twenty percent of all funds received as tuition will be saved for salaries and contract payments for the faculty. The other twenty percent shall be saved for salaries and contract payment for administrative staff. The remaining funds will be saved in the University’s account as designated by the Governing Council for current and future projects, including projects for the setting up and maintenance of the University's website, setting up of offices and campuses/rent payment for the University, accreditation fees and other expenses, provided that where certain investments have been made for approved University projects by a member of the Governing Council or Academic Board or Faculty Member or Regional/Country Director, the investor will be paid between 5 to 10 percent of the University’s savings on a quarterly basis until the invested amount has been fully liquidated. The percentage to be paid quarterly with minimal interest could be further negotiated upwards between the investor and AUU International Governing Council but this is subject to agreement by both parties.The Regional Directors or Country Directors or other Personnel who refer student(s) to the University shall be paid the fees received as application/registration fees for the particular student(s) that they refer to the University. 

With respect to honorary doctorates, the Pro Chancellor shall be entitled to twenty percent of all funds received as administrative charges for his position as President of the University. The Pro Vice-Chancellor shall be entitled to twenty percent of all funds received as administrative charges for his role as Vice President of the University. The remaining twenty percent of all funds received as administrative charges will be saved for salaries and contract payments for the faculty. The other twenty percent shall be saved for salaries and contract payment for administrative staff. The remaining funds will be saved in the University’s account as designated by the Governing Council for current and future projects, including projects for the setting up and maintenance of the University's website, setting up of offices and campuses/rent payment for the University, accreditation fees and other expenses, provided that where certain investments have been made for approved University projects by a member of the Governing Council or Academic Board or Faculty Member or Regional/Country Director, the investor will be paid between 5 to 10 percent of the University’s savings on a quarterly basis until the invested amount has been fully liquidated. The percentage to be paid quarterly with minimal interest could be further negotiated upwards between the investor and AUU International Governing Council but this is subject to agreement by both parties.The Regional Directors or Country Directors or other Personnel who refer dignitaries to the University for the honorary doctorate degrees shall be paid the fees received as application/registration fees for the particular dignitaries that they refer to the University. 

The Chancellor, Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, the Regional Directors, Country Directors/Representatives and other members of the Academic Board may decide to voluntarily contribute some or all of their entitlements to a particular project of the University. When this happens, a written instruction via email must be made to the University by the Director of Academics with a clear instruction to credit the University with the entitlement. The particular amount must be stated. 

All Agreements or appointment letters issued to the Director of Academics and International Relations/Vice Chancellor, Regional Directors, Country Directors/Representatives or Staff must comply with the payment modalities in this Charter. Any Clause in an Agreement for any AUU Director or Staff which is inconsistent with the Provisions of this Charter will be void to the extent of its inconsistency.

13.  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.

14.  Variation of the Charter

The Governing Council under the leadership of the Pro Chancellor/President and Pro Vice Chancellor/Vice President 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