Constitution
of the Japan Accreditation Board
for Engineering Education
Established November 19, 1999
Revised May 2, 2001
Revised May 15,2002
Chapter One: General Rules
(Name)
Article 1 The name of this organization shall be Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education, hereinafter referred to as JABEE.
(Office)
Article 2
1. The office of JABEE shall be located at Kenchiku Kaikan 6th Floor, 5-26-20, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
2. JABEE may establish a secondary office at any required location upon resolution at a general meeting.
(Purposes)
Article 3 The purposes of JABEE shall be to ensure, by collaborating with academe and industry respectively, and by accreditation under standardized criteria, the international equivalency of engineering education programs to develop engineers provided by Japanese institutions of higher education, such as universities, and to contribute to the development of society and industry through the promotion of engineering education and the training of international engineers.
(Activities)
Article 4 To achieve the purposes defined in Article 3, JABEE shall carry out the following activities:
(1) Establishing accreditation criteria and procedures, conducting examinations and accreditations, and publicizing the accreditation of engineering education programs
(2) Training Examiners to examine engineering education programs
(3) Designating, administering, and coordinating partner organizations from the field of accreditation to examine engineering education programs
(4) Conducting surveys and issuing proposals about the examination and accreditation of engineering education programs
(5) Coordinating collaboration with academe and industry respectively in the accreditation and examination of engineering education programs
(6) Promoting understanding of the examination and accreditation of engineering education programs
(7) Enhancing international mutual recognition of and information exchange in the examination and accreditation of engineering education programs
(8) Other activities necessary for achieving the purposes of JABEE
Chapter Two: Members
(Type)
Article 5 The members of JABEE shall be as follows:
(1) Regular members: Affiliated engineering societies agreeing with the purposes of JABEE
(2) Supporting members: Corporations and organizations agreeing with the purposes of JABEE and collaborating with the activities of JABEE
(Admission)
Article 6
1. An engineering society wishing to become a member of JABEE shall submit the specified membership application form to the president and receive approval from the board of directors.
2. A member (engineering society, corporation, or organization) shall designate and notify the president of one person (hereinafter, the member representative) to exercise representative rights with regard to JABEE.
3. If a member representative is changed, the engineering society, corporation, or organization member shall report the change to the president without delay using the specified change report form.
(Membership fee)
Article 7 Members shall pay the membership fee determined at the general meeting.
(Withdrawal)
Article 8
1. A member wishing to withdraw from JABEE shall submit the specified withdrawal application form to the president.
2. A member shall lose membership rights in either of the following cases:
(1) Dissolution or bankruptcy of the corporation or organization
(2) Failure to pay the membership fee for two years or more
(Exclusion)
Article 9
1. A member may be excluded by a vote of two thirds or more of incumbent regular members at a general meeting in either of the following cases:
(1) Failure to comply with the Constitution or rules of JABEE
(2) Behavior dishonoring JABEE or contrary to JABEE purposes
2. Before a member is excluded in accordance with Article 9.1, said member shall be notified in advance and shall be given a chance to offer an explanation at the general meeting where the exclusion vote is due to take place.
(Right together with duty concurrent with loss of membership)
Article 10
1 When a member loses its membership in accordance with Article 8 or Article 9, said member shall lose all rights and be absolved from all duties with regard to JABEE, except duties that have not yet been fulfilled.
2 Paid membership fees or other paid money or articles shall not be returned by JABEE even in the case of loss of membership.
Chapter Three: Officers and Counselors
(Types and numbers)
Article 11
1. The JABEE officers shall consist of the followings:
(1) Directors: 20 to 2
(2) Auditors: 2 or 3
2. One person among the directors may be elected as president, one to three as vice-president(s), and one as executive director.
(Election)
Article 12
1. The directors and auditors shall be elected at the general meeting from among regular members (representatives of engineering societies). However, if necessary, a maximum of five directors and two auditors may be elected from among people who are not regular members.
2. Regardless of Article 12.1, if an urgent need arises directors and auditors may be elected as additions or substitutions with the approval of the board of directors, without waiting the next general meeting. Such elections shall be subject to approval at the next general meeting.
3. The president, vice-president(s) and executive director shall be elected at the board of directors by a mutual vote.
4. Directors and auditors shall not be permitted to hold both positions concurrently.
(Duties)
Article 13
1. The directors shall form the board of directors and shall make decisions on the conduct of JABEE’s activities.
2. The president shall represent JABEE and preside over its work.
3. The vice-presidents shall assist the president, control the work of JABEE, and substitute for the president in an order agreed upon in advance by the board of directors if the president cannot fulfill assigned duties or resigns due to an accident or for other reasons.
4. The executive director shall assist the president and vice-presidents and coordinate the work of JABEE.
5. The auditors shall carry out their work as defined by the Article 59 of Civil Code.
(Terms of service)
Article 14
1. An officer shall serve for two years and may be reelected.
2. An officer elected as an addition or substitute shall serve for the remaining term of the previous or other current officers.
3. Even after resignation or expiration of the term of service, an officer shall continue in his/her assigned duties until a successor takes the position.
(Dismissal)
Article 15
1. An officer may be dismissed by a vote of two thirds or more of incumbent regular members at a general meeting in either of the following cases:
(1) The officer is judged physically or mentally incapable of fulfilling his/her assigned duties.
(2) The officer is judged as not complying with his/her assigned duties or as having behaved in a manner not appropriate to an officer.
2. Before a member is dismissed in accordance with Article 15.1 (2), said member shall be notified in advance and shall be given a chance to offer an explanation at the general meeting where the dismissal vote is due to take place.
(Remuneration)
Article 16 Officers shall not be remunerated. However, full-time officers may be remunerated with the approval of the board of directors.
(Counselors)
Article 17
1. JABEE may have one to five counselors, aside from the officers above.
2. The counselors shall be appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the board of directors, which shall select them from among persons of experience or academic standing or persons who have rendered remarkable service to JABEE.
3. The counselors shall respond to consultation by the president and shall offer opinions to the president on the operations of JABEE.
4. Article 14.1 shall also apply to counselors.
Chapter Four: Meetings
(Types)
Article 18 JABEE shall hold two types of meetings: general meetings and board of directors meetings. The general meetings shall be either an ordinary or extraordinary.
(Organization)
Article 19
1. General meetings shall be attended by regular members.
2. Board of directors meetings shall be attended by directors.
3. Auditors may attend board of directors meetings and offer opinions.
(Functions)
Article 20
1. General meetings shall be held to decide not only matters prescribed in this Constitution but also critical items relating to the operation of JABEE.
2. Board of directors meetings shall be held to decide not only matters prescribed in this Constitution but also the following:
(1) Matters related the execution of items determined at the general meeting
(2) Matters to be presented to the general meeting for discussion
(3) Matters related to the execution of affairs not requiring a resolution at the general meeting
(Holding of Meetings)
Article 21
1. Ordinary general meetings shall be held once a year.
2. An extraordinary general meeting shall be held in either of the following cases:
(1) If it is deemed necessary by the board of directors
(2) If a request is submitted by one-fifth or more of incumbent regular members, accompanied by a statement of the purpose of the meeting
3. Board of directors meetings shall be held in either of the following cases:
(1) It is deemed to be necessary by the president
(2) If a request is submitted by one-third or more of the directors, accompanied by a statement of the purpose of the meeting
(Convening)
Article 22
1. General meetings and board of directors meetings shall be convened by the president.
2. The president shall notify constituents of the general meeting no less than 7 days before the first day of the meeting through a written statement detailing the date, time, and place of the meeting, as well as the purpose and the content of the meeting.
3. Article 22.2 apply similarly to board of directors meetings. However in urgent cases, the president may convene a board of directors meeting in accordance with the procedure decided in advance by the board of directors.
4. The president shall convene a meeting as soon as possible when a meeting is requested in accordance with Article 21.2 or Article 21.3(2).
(Chair)
Article 23 The president shall chair the general meetings and board of directors meetings. However, when a meeting is requested in accordance with Article 21.2(2) and an extraordinary general meeting is held, the chair shall be elected from among attending regular members.
(Quorum)
Article 24 General meetings and board of directors meetings shall be held with the attendance of more than half of the constituents.
(Resolutions)
Article 25
1. The agenda of the general and board of directors meetings with exception of the cases specified in this Constitution, shall be determined by a majority of the constituents present at the meetings. If the number of votes is equally split between those for and those against, the president shall cast the decisive vote.
2. At the general and board of directors meetings, only agenda items for which prior notification has been given in accordance with Article 22.2 or 3 shall be resolved. However, an emergency agenda may be resolved upon agreement by two-third of the constituents present at the meeting.
3. Any constituent who has a special interest in an agenda item to be resolved shall not exercise his/her voting right on said item.
(Written vote)
Article 26
1. If a constituent cannot attend the general or board of directors meeting for an unavoidable reason, said constituent shall be able to exercise his/her voting right in written form or by proxy regarding items for which prior notification has been received.
2. The proxy mentioned in Article 26.1 shall submit a written certificate of proxy to the chair at each meeting.
3. Regarding the application of Article 24 and Article 25.1, a member exercising their voting right according to Article 26.1 shall be regarded as present.
(Minutes)
Article 27
1. At every the general and board of directors meeting, minutes describing the items listed below shall be written.
(1) Date, time, and place
(2) Current number of constituents
(3) Number of constituents present at the meeting, and for the minutes of board of directors meeting, names of directors present at the meeting (including written votes and proxies
(4) Resolutions
(5) Summary of the discussion and its results
(6) Items related to the election of those signing the minutes
2. The minutes shall be signed by the chair and two or more representatives elected from among the constituents present at the meeting.
Chapter Five: Assets and Accounting
(Assets)
Article 28 The assets of JABEE shall be as follows:
(1) Assets listed in the assets inventory at the time of the establishment of JABEE
(2) Membership fees
(3) Money and articles contributed
(4) Income from assets
(5) Income from activities
(6) Other income
(Assets administration)
Article 29 The assets of JABEE shall be administered by the president using a method resolved upon at the board of directors meeting.
(Payment of expenses)
Article 30 The expenses of JABEE shall be paid from the assets..
(Business year)
Article 31 The JABEE business year shall start from April 1 and end on March 31 the following year.
(Business plan and budget)
Article 32
1. The business plan and budget of JABEE shall be drafted by the president and determined before the start of each business year by resolution at a general meeting. If the general meeting cannot be held for an unavoidable reason before the start of each business year, the business plan and budget may be approved by resolution of the board of directors. In this case, the resolution of a general meeting shall be required within three months from the start of said business year.
2. In case a general meeting cannot be held before the start of each business year, the budget of the previous business year shall be temporarily applied until a new budget is resolved upon at a general meeting.
3. Adjustment of the business plan and budget resolved at a general meeting in accordance with Article 32.1, may be determined at the board of directors meeting.
(Annual report and settlement)
Article 33 The president shall produce an annual report, a balance statement of revenues and expenses, and an asset inventory without delay after the end of each business year. These documents shall be audited by the auditors and approved at the general meeting within three months after the end of the business year.
(Special Account)
Article 34
1. If necessary for the prosecution of business, JABEE may set up a special account upon resolution at a general meeting.
2. Accounting related to said special account shall be conducted separately from general accounting.
(Settlement of balance)
Article 35 When any surplus or deficit arises from the settlement of the balance of revenues and expenses of JABEE, all or a part of the surplus or deficit shall be set aside or shall be carried over to the next business year upon resolution at a general meeting.
(Borrowing money)
Article 36 When JABEE borrows money, except in cases where the amount of borrowed is less than the income for the business year and is to be repaid within a year, resolution by a vote of two-thirds or more of incumbent directors at the board of directors meeting shall be required.
Chapter Six: Constitution Amendment and Dissolution
(Constitution change)
Article 37 Amendment to the Constitution shall not be approved without a vote of three-fourths or more of the incumbent regular members at a general meeting.
(Dissolution)
Article 38
1. JABEE shall be dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Civil Code Article 68, Clause 1, Section 2-4 and Clause 2.
2. The dissolution of JABEE in accordance with the provision of Civil Code Article 68, Clouse 2, Section 1 shall be decided by a vote of three-fourths or more of the incumbent regular members at a general meeting.
(Disposal of remaining assets)
Article 39 Assets remaining as of the dissolution of JABEE shall be contributed, with a vote of three-fourths or more of the incumbent regular members at a general meeting, to an organization with purposes similar to those of JABEE.
Chapter Seven: Supplementary Rules
(Documents)
Article 40 JABEE shall always keep the following documents, in addition to items required by Civil Code Article 51, at its principal office:
(1) Constitution
(2) Lists of names, addresses and resumes of directors and auditors
(3) In case activities are conducted requiring the permission or authorization of public authorities, documents giving evidence of said permission or authorization
(4) Documents related to the minutes of the various meetings specified in the Constitution
(5) Documents showing assets and debts
(6) Evidence related to income and payments
(Committees)
Article 41
1. JABEE may set up committees in order to prosecute its business smoothly.
2. The committees shall investigate, research, and deliberate issues relating to their purposes.
3. Items necessary for the organization and operation of the committees shall be decided separately by the President upon resolution by the board of directors.
(Secretariat)
Article 42
1. A secretariat shall be established in JABEE for clerical work.
2. The secretariat shall consist of a secretary general and necessary staff.
3. The secretary general and staff shall be remunerated.
4. The secretary general shall be appointed by the president upon agreement by the board of directors. Staff shall be appointed or dismissed by the president.
(Administrative Instruction)
Article 43 Items necessary for the execution of this Constitution shall be decided separately by the president upon resolution by the board of directors.
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