::.. Iran Technical & Vocational Training Organization ..::

I. NAME, SEAT AND DURATION
Art. 1.

1.1 Name
The Organization will be known as World Skills International.
The Organization operates worldwide and is politically and denominationally neutral and shall not seek to make a profit.

1.2 Seat
The Organization is registered in Amsterdam and is governed by the law of The Netherlands.

II. GOAL, MISSION AND OBJECTIVES
Art. 2.

2.1 Goal
Promoting Skills across the World.

2.2 Mission
To promote, through the cooperative actions of Members, a worldwide awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence make to the achievement of economic success and individual fulfillment.

2.3 Objectives

1. Market World Skills by drawing on the global efforts of Member organizations

2. Position the World Skills Competition as the premier world event for skills recognition and advancement

3. Develop a new modern identity and a flexible structure to support the global activities of World Skills

4. Develop strategic partnerships with selected corporate, government and non-government organizations to further the aims of World Skills

5. Disseminate information and share knowledge about skill standards and World Skills performance bench-marks, especially via the World Wide Web

6. Facilitate networking among World Skills experts to develop new opportunities for skills development and innovation

7. Encourage the transfer of skills, knowledge and cultural exchange between participants in World Skills and other young people across the world

2.4 To achieve these objectives World Skills will:

challenge young people, their teachers, trainers and employers to achieve world class standards of competence in commerce, services and industry, and to promote the status of vocational education and training
conduct World Skills Competitions in alternate years
promote the exchange of ideas and experience in vocational education and training through seminars, meetings and competitions
disseminate information on world class standards of competence
seek to motivate young people to pursue further education and training relevant to their careers
facilitate communication and contacts between vocational education and training organizations around the world
encourage the exchange of young professionals among the Members

III. GOVERNING BODIES, STANDING COMMITTEES AND OFFICERS
Art. 3.

3.1 Governing Bodies
The Organization’s Governing Bodies are:

the General Assembly
the Executive Board

3.2 Standing Committees
The Organization’s Standing Committees are:

the Strategy Committee
the Technical Committee

3.3 Officers
3.3.1 The Organization’s Officers are:

the President, elected by the General Assembly
a Treasurer, appointed by the Executive Board
a Vice President for Special Affairs, elected by the General Assembly
a Vice President for Strategic Affairs, elected by the General Assembly
a Vice President for Technical Affairs, elected by the General Assembly
the Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committees, elected by the General Assembly
the Secretary General, appointed by the Executive Board

3.3.2 The President, Vice Presidents and Vice Chairmen are elected by secret ballot for a term of office of four years. They stand down after their term of office and are eligible for re-election to any position.
In the case of a vacancy, a new election will be held as soon as possible.

3.3.3 The terms and conditions of service of the Secretary General shall be agreed between the Executive Board and the Secretary General in a contract for services.

3.4 General Assembly
3.4.1 The General Assembly is the highest authority. The General Assembly consists of the Official Delegates and the Technical Delegates, representing the Members of the Organization. Each Member has one vote to be cast by one of both delegates.

3.4.2 The General Assembly shall meet on the invitation from the President once every year. It is chaired by the President. A special meeting of the General Assembly may be convened at any time by resolution of the Executive Board or at the request of 1/3 of the Members.

3.4.3 All meetings will be convened by letter, fax or email with an indication of the items to be dealt with at least six weeks before the meeting.

3.4.4 The powers of the General Assembly include:

a. Election of the President, Vice Presidents, and Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committees.
b. Approval of the annual audited accounts
c. Resolutions on reports and proposals from the Executive Board
d. Decisions about future Competitions
e. Ratification of the admission of Members
f. Expulsion of Members
g. Appointment of Honorary Members or an Honorary President
h. Resolutions concerning awards
i. Approval of awards to competitors on proposal of the Technical Committee
j. Approval of the budget and the annual fees
k. Approval of the Standing Orders and the Competition Rules and Regulations on the proposal of the Executive Board
l. Approval of changes to the Constitution on the proposal of the Executive Board
m. Dissolution of the Organization

3.5 Executive Board
3.5.1 The Executive Board consists of the President, the Vice Presidents, the Vice Chairmen of the Standing Committees and the Treasurer. The Executive Board conducts the Organization’s business and reports to the General Assembly.

3.5.2 The Executive Board shall meet on the invitation from the President at least twice a year. This meeting is chaired by the President. The Secretary General participates in the meetings for advice. A special meeting of the Executive Board may be convened at any time by resolution of the Executive Board at the request of the majority of the members. The agenda for all meetings will be circulated at least six weeks before a meeting.

3.5.3 The powers of the Executive Board include:

Dealing with administrative and operative issues
Preparation of the Standing Orders
Preparation of an operating plan
Monitoring the quality of the Competitions
Coordination of the Committee meetings
Discussion of proposals from the Committees
Coordination of the results from Committee meetings and report to the General Assembly
Appointment of the Secretary General
Decisions on special tasks to be undertaken by the members of the Executive Board
Approval of the Organization’s annual report
Appointment of a qualified public accountant
Appointment of a Treasurer
Decision on the annual accounts
Contacts with other organizations
Admission of new Members
Appointment of a Quality Auditor
Analysis of competition results and possible initiatives for basic training
Coordination of Competition venues and proposals to the General Assembly
Establishment of working groups

3.6 Strategy Committee
The Strategy Committee consists of the Official Delegates. It is chaired by the Vice President for Strategic Affairs and meets on his/her invitation. It will have a reflective role and work on possible strategies and ways to implement the aims and objectives of the Organization in accordance with the orientation agreed upon.

3.7 Technical Committee
The Technical Committee consists of the Technical Delegates. It is chaired by the Vice President for Technical Affairs and meets on his/her invitation, and deals with all technical and organizational matters relating to the Competition.

IV. MEMBERSHIP
Art. 4.

4.1 Definition
The term Member means a body representing a vocational education and training system in a country/regions commerce, services and industry and recognized as such by the Organization.

4.2 Admission
The admission of Members falls within the competence of the Executive Board and must be approved by the General Assembly (the admission procedure is governed by the Organization’s Standing Orders).

4.3 Delegates
A Member is represented by an Official and a Technical Delegate.

4.4 Resignation
4.4.1 A Member may resign at the end of a calendar year provided that it notifies the Secretary General in writing of its intention to do so at least six months beforehand.

4.4.2 At the end of its membership the Member must have discharged its obligations to the Organization.

4.5 Information
Every Member has the obligation to notify the Executive Board without delay of any material changes within its body that could affect its Membership.

4.6 Expulsion
4.6.1 A Member may be expelled by the General Assembly for serious, repeated breaches of the Constitution, the aims of the Organization or the neglect of financial commitments, provided that 3/4 of the Members are represented at the meeting and entitled to vote agree.

4.6.2 The General Assembly shall vote on a proposal from the Executive Board after satisfying the requirements of due process.

V. FINANCES
Art. 5.

5.1 Financial year
The Organization’s financial year is from 1 January up to and including 31 December.

5.2 Income
The income of the Organization includes:

Membership admission fees
annual Membership fees
fees for professional services
the sale of Technical Descriptions, literature, analyses, and income from conferences
voluntary donations
sponsorship fees

5.3 Annual fee
On the recommendation of the Executive Board, the General Assembly sets the annual fee in accordance with the budget.

5.4 Remuneration
Members of the Organization and their Delegates are not remunerated for their services.

5.5 Liability
5.5.1 any commitments will be covered by the Organization’s assets.

5.5.2 Members who resign or who are expelled from the Organization by resolution of the General Assembly have no claim to the Organization’s assets.

5.6 Auditing
The accounts and a statement of the Organization’s assets and liabilities shall be audited by a certified public accountant before presentation to the General Assembly.

VI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Art. 6.
Honorary President, Honorary Members On the resolution of the General Assembly, past Delegates or the past President of the Organization may be nominated Honorary Members or Honorary President respectively. A 3/4 majority of Delegates entitled to vote is required.

Art. 7. Standing Orders
The Executive Board shall prepare Standing Orders as necessary to regulate the conduct of the Organization’s affairs and to define the rules and responsibilities of the Organization’s officers and committees.
All such Standing Orders shall be submitted to the General Assembly for approval.

Art. 8. Interpretation
For interpretation of the Constitution and all legal matters the English language stands.

Art. 9. Gender
Words implying masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender.

VII. FINAL PROVISIONS
Art. 10.

10.1 Amendments
The Constitution may be amended by the General Assembly provided that 2/3 of the Members represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, agree.

10.2 Dissolution
The Organization may be dissolved by the General Assembly provided that 3/4 of the Members represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, agree. In the event of dissolution, the assets of the Organization shall be returned to Members in proportion to their latest annual Membership fee.

10.3 Representation
The Executive Board, or the President and a Vice President, or the President together with the Secretary General are entitled to represent the Organization.

10.4 Effective Date
This Constitution was ratified at the General Assembly of 10 May 2006 in Melbourne. It replaces the Constitution approved in Helsinki on 25 May 2005 and all rulings hitherto in force and comes into effect on 10 May 2006.

Revisions

v1.0	Lisbon, 15.06.00	Tjerk Düsseldorf, Daniel Sommer

v1.1	Auckland, 14.03.02	Revised and adapted: Tjerk Dusseldorp, Daniel Sommer

v2.0	Hong Kong, 10.05.04	Revised and adapted: Tjerk Dusseldorp, Sheila Ruigrok (Acting)

v2.1	Helsinki, 25.05.05	Revised and adapted: Tjerk Dusseldorp - President, David Hoey - Secretary General

v2.2	Melbourne, 10.05.06	Revised and adapted: Tjerk Dusseldorp - President, David Hoey - Secretary General