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IARSA

Governance of the Federation

Charter of the Federation Governing Council

The establishment, mandate, composition, meetings and amendment of the Governing Council. Signed 10 November 2026.

Approved and signed on 10 November 2026.

Preamble

Recognizing the autonomy of each independently incorporated national entity within the International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators (IARSA)—including IARSA Nigeria, IARSA United States, IARSA Ghana, and future accredited national affiliates—and affirming the need for unified academic standards, ethical governance, and global coordination under the Master Intercompany Intellectual Property License Agreement, this Charter establishes the structure, authority, and rules of procedure of the IARSA Federation Governing Council (GC).

Article I: Establishment, Status, and Supremacy

  1. Establishment: There is hereby established the IARSA Federation Governing Council (hereinafter referred to as "the Council" or "GC").
  2. Nature & Mandate: The Council serves as the supreme global policy-making, standards-harmonizing, and strategic advisory organ of the IARSA Federation.
  3. Respect for National Sovereignty: While the Council sets binding global academic, ethical, and brand standards across the Federation, it shall not override the statutory fiduciary duties, tax compliance obligations, or domestic corporate laws governing any individual national entity.

Article II: Powers and Functions of the Council

  1. The Federation Governing Council shall exercise the following powers and responsibilities:
  2. Global Standards & Certification (CRSA): Establish, review, and harmonize criteria for membership grades, professional fellowships (FCRSA, DFCRSA, EFCRSA), continuing professional development, and academic accreditation across all jurisdictions.
  3. Brand & Intellectual Property Oversight: Monitor compliance with the Master Intercompany Intellectual Property License Agreement, safeguarding the IARSA name, seal, post-nominal designations, and trademarks globally.
  4. Federation Expansion: Review and approve applications for the chartering of new national chapters, regional hubs, and institutional affiliates, and recommend suspension or revocation of licenses for material breach of Federation standards.
  5. Strategic Direction & Global Partnerships: Approve multi-year global strategic plans and authorize international treaties, memoranda of understanding (MoUs), and partnerships with multilateral bodies, universities, and research institutions.
  6. Ethical & Disciplinary Finality: Serve as the final appellate body for cross-border ethical violations, academic misconduct, or inter-chapter disputes that cannot be resolved at the national board level.
  7. Ratification of Standing Committees: Establish, mandate, and ratify the leadership of global Standing Committees.

Article III: Composition and Tenure

  1. Size: The Council shall consist of twenty (20) voting members, structured to balance national representation with global scholarly distinction.
  2. Categories of Membership:
  • Ex-Officio National Representatives (6 Seats): Two (2) designated leaders (typically the National President/Chair and Chief Executive/Secretary) from each of the founding national entities: Nigeria, the United States, and Ghana. (Additional accredited national bodies may be granted observer or voting seats via Council resolution).
  • Principal Federation Officers (4 Seats): The Federation President/Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary-General, and Treasurer-General.
  • Elected & Appointed Fellows (10 Seats): Distinguished Fellows (DFCRSA), Emeritus Fellows (EFCRSA), and eminent scholars, administrators, or public figures nominated by national boards and ratified by the Council to ensure disciplinary, gender, and geographic diversity.
  1. Eligibility Criteria: Every Council member must be a financial member in good standing of an accredited IARSA national body, hold at least a Master’s or Doctoral degree (or equivalent executive distinction), and possess an unblemished record of academic and professional integrity.
  2. Term of Office:
  • Appointed and elected members shall serve a term of three (3) years, renewable once (maximum of six consecutive years).
  • Ex-officio members shall serve on the Council coterminous with their tenure in their respective national offices.

Article IV: Principal Officers of the Council

  1. Chair of the Governing Council: Presides over all Council plenary sessions, represents the Federation at high-level global forums, and ensures resolutions are faithfully executed.
  2. Vice-Chair: Assists the Chair, oversees inter-chapter coordination, and assumes the duties of the Chair in their absence or incapacity.
  3. Secretary-General: Serves as Chief Administrative Officer of the Council; maintains the official Federation Registry, minutes, and seal; issues meeting notices; and coordinates between national secretariats.
  4. Treasurer-General: Chairs the Global Finance & Audit Committee, oversees shared Federation dues/licensing remittances, and presents audited consolidated financial reports to the Council.

Article V: Standing Committees of the Council

To execute its mandate efficiently, the Council shall maintain the following Standing Committees, each chaired by a Council member:

  1. Membership, Fellowship & Certification Committee: Vets nominations for senior fellowships and audits CRSA examination and credentialing standards.
  2. Research, Publications & Editorial Board: Oversees IARSA peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, research grants, and global academic symposia.
  3. Finance, Audit & Licensing Compliance Committee: Monitors IP licensing compliance, shared administrative budgets, and financial transparency across chapters.
  4. Ethics, Standards & Dispute Resolution Committee: Investigates breaches of the IARSA Code of Conduct and mediates jurisdictional disputes.
  5. Global Partnerships & Expansion Committee: Evaluates petitions for new national entities and cultivates international institutional alliances.

Article VI: Meetings, Quorum, and Decision-making

  1. Frequency of Meetings:
  • Ordinary Sessions: The Council shall convene at least twice (2) every calendar year—one Annual General Plenary (in-person or hybrid) and one Mid-Year Virtual Session.
  • Extraordinary Sessions: May be summoned by the Chair or upon written petition of at least one-third (7 members) of the Council to address urgent matters.
  1. Notice: Written notice and the provisional agenda shall be circulated by the Secretary-General at least twenty-one (21) days prior to an Ordinary Session and seven (7) days prior to an Extraordinary Session.
  2. Quorum: A quorum for any meeting shall require the presence of at least eleven (11) voting members (simple majority), provided that at least two (2) distinct national chapters are represented.
  3. Voting & Consensus:
  • Every voting member shall have one (1) vote. In the event of a tie, the presiding Chair shall cast a deciding vote.
  • Ordinary resolutions shall pass by a simple majority of members present and voting.
  • Special Resolutions (amending this Charter, admitting a new national body, revoking an IP license, or removing a Council member) shall require a two-thirds (2/3) supermajority of the full Council (at least 14 affirmative votes).

Article VII: Vacancies, Removal, and Code of Conduct

  1. Conflict of Interest: Council members must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflict of interest prior to deliberations and recuse themselves from voting on such matters.
  2. Removal from Office: A member may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council for gross misconduct, breach of confidentiality, conviction of a criminal offense, or unexcused absence from three (3) consecutive Council meetings.
  3. Filling Vacancies: Any vacancy occurring mid-term shall be filled within sixty (60) days through the original appointing or nominating mechanism for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Article VIII: Adoption and Amendment

Ratification: This Charter shall enter into force upon ratification by the Boards of Directors of the founding national bodies (IARSA Nigeria, IARSA United States, and IARSA Ghana) and formal adoption at the inaugural plenary of the Federation Governing Council.

Amendments: Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Secretary-General at least thirty (30) days before a scheduled Council meeting and require a two-thirds (2/3) supermajority vote for adoption.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the duly authorized representatives of the founding national bodies of the International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators adopt this Charter on this 10th day of November, 2026.