Workshop on the New Constitutions Proposed for Private Universities and Colleges
The Ministry of Education recently circulated two templates or model constitutions to private universities and colleges. These new constitutions are meant to replace the constitutions that were circulated in 2012. The Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996, require private institutions, whether universities or colleges, to be managed in accordance with a constitution. However, the Act stopped short of prescribing a constitution.
The new constitutions now circulated are based on the 2012 constitutions with some changes. One important difference is that the new constitutions will be issued through new statutory regulations made for that purpose. If adopted, the new constitutions will have important implications for those governing and managing these institutions in ways that are not apparent on the face of the documents. Private higher educational institutions have been given until the end of May to respond to those changes.
Because of their importance, and as a service to the private sector, Espact is organizing a free workshop to discuss those implications. The workshop will be held at the Royal Selangor Club in Dataran Merdeka. We decided on holding it from 12pm and 3pm because of the fasting month. There will be some light refreshments served from 11.00am for those not fasting.
The workshop will be led by Mr U K Menon, a lawyer with 25 years involvement in the private sector of higher education. He was involved in most if not all the committees that were set up to review the Act since its inception in 1996.
What will be covered at the workshop?
1. The legal position of universities and colleges established under Act 555 and how they are different from universities established by the University and University Colleges Act 1971.
2. A discussion on the structure of the proposed constitutions and some of their limitations. The governance structure under the proposed constitutions and why they may not be appropriate for the different types of institutions that operate as PHEIs.
3. A discussion on a new model constitution that will serve the different types of PHEIs and models of ownership that are now found.
We invite anyone with an interest in the management of private universities and colleges to attend the workshop. We request anyone interested in attending the workshop to register through this website. As places are limited, we will only accept registrations completed before 11 May 2019.
You may register here or write to espact.asia@gmail.com or call 016 3957617. Seats are limited because of the size of the room, so please register or write to us before10 May 2019.
Venue & Time
Royal Selangor Club, Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur
Presidents' Room
Tuesday, 14 May 2019
12.00 Noon to 3.30pm
Because of the Fasting Month, the Club requires the event to end at 3.30
Parking available in the adjoining Municipal underground car park
