(Last updated on 2 July 2023)

1. Interpretation

1.1 In these rules the following words and expressions shall have the following meanings:

    • Articles” means the articles of association adopted by the Association from time to time;
    • Association” means the Association of British Chinese Professors Limited;
    • Associate Member” means any person who satisfies the requirements of Rule 2.4 and who is granted membership of the Association by the Standing Management Committee;
    • Standing Management Committee” is the Board of Directors of the Association, as appointed from time to time;
    • Corresponding Member” means any person to whom the Standing Management Committee grants membership as a corresponding member under Rule 2.5;
    • Full Member” means any person who satisfies the requirements of Rules 2.2 and 2.3 and who is granted membership of the Association by the Standing Management Committee;
    • Honorary Member” means any person who under Rule 2.6 is granted membership of the Association by the Standing Management Committee;
    • Secretary” means any person appointed to perform the duties of the secretary of the Association; and
    • two thirds majority” means more than 66% of those entitled to vote and voting on the matter the subject of the resolution.

1.2 Terms used and not otherwise defined in these rules shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Articles.

2. Membership Criteria

2.1 The Association has four classes of membership: (i) Full Members; (ii) Associate Members; (iii) Corresponding Members; and (iv) Honorary Members.

2.2 Save in the case of an Honorary Member, to be eligible to be a member of the Association, a person must be of Chinese heritage.

2.3 In addition to satisfying the requirement in Rule 2.2 above, to be eligible to be a Full Member, a person must have achieved the academic rank of ‘Professor’ (or equivalent), and carry out the majority of their working activities within the United Kingdom (UK).

2.4 In addition to satisfying the requirements in Rule 2.2 above, to be eligible to be an Associate Member, a person must hold an academic post or role (but need not have achieved the rank of ‘Professor’ or equivalent), and carry out the majority of their working activities within the UK.

2.5 Full Members and Associate Members who no longer carry out the majority of their working activities in the UK may request to the Standing Management Committee to continue the original membership or become a Corresponding Member. Any decision by the Standing Management Committee to grant a continued membership or a Corresponding Membership shall be entirely at the Standing Management Committee’s discretion.

2.6 In addition to the above, the Standing Management Committee may, in its absolute discretion, grant a membership to a person who is highly respected for their academic achievements, but who does not satisfy the criteria set out in Rules 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4.  Any such member shall be known as Honorary Members.

2.7 People who are not working at a UK university and do not hold a standard academic title (i.e., lecturer / assistant professor, senior lecturer / principal lecturer / reader / associate professor, professor, research fellow with a permanent contract, etc.) should supply a full CV to the Standing Management Committee for their (full or associate) membership. A normally sufficient qualification for a full membership is the title of  ‘Professor’ or other equivalents such as ‘Visiting Professor’ or ‘Honorary Professor’ conferred (and confirmed in a formal document) by a UK University recognised by the UKRI or the UUKi.

2.8 Retired academics who satisfy the membership criteria before retirement continue to be eligible for being a Full or Associate Member.

2.9 The Standing Management Committee may accept or refuse any application from any person to become a member of the Association in its absolute discretion and without providing a reason for such acceptance or refusal.

3. Rights and Obligations of Members

3.1 All Full Members, Associate Members, Corresponding Members and Honorary Members shall have the following rights:

3.1.1 to voluntarily terminate their membership of the Association;

3.1.2 to participate in the Association’s activities; and

3.1.3 the right to volunteer suggestions and making enquiries about the operation of the Association.

3.2 In addition to Rule 3.1 above, Full Members shall be entitled to be appointed as a Director of the Association in accordance with the nomination and appointment procedures set out in the Articles of Association.

3.3 All Full Members, Associate Members, Corresponding Members and Honorary Members shall agree to comply with the following obligations:

3.3.1 to comply with the Articles, by-laws and rules of the Association;

3.3.2 to pay the membership fee on time unless waived;

3.3.3 to participate in the Association’s activities regularly; and

3.3.4 to notify the Association of any change of contact details in a timely manner.

4. Cessation of Membership

4.1 A member may terminate their membership of the Association by giving one month’s notice to the Association in writing.

4.2 If a member:

4.2.1 is guilty of conduct which has or is likely to have a serious adverse effect on the Association or bring the Association or any or all of the Members and directors into disrepute,

4.2.2 has acted or has threatened to act in a manner which is contrary to the interests of the Association as a whole, or

4.2.3 has failed to observe the terms of these rules and the Articles,

the Standing Management Committee may either (a) terminate the membership of such member without their consent by giving the member written notice if, by a two thirds majority vote of the Standing Management Committee; or (b) invite a member voluntarily to terminate their membership.

4.3 There shall be no right to appeal from a decision of the Standing Management Committee to terminate the membership of a member.

4.4 Following termination, the member shall be removed from the Register of Members.

4.5 A member whose membership is terminated under Rule 4.2 shall remain liable to pay to the Association any membership fee or other sum owed by them as at the date of termination.

4.6 Membership is not transferable without the prior written permission of the Standing Management Committee.

5. Membership Fees

5.1 The Standing Management Committee will set and review the membership fees for each category of member of the Association on an annual basis.

5.2 Honorary Members shall be exempted from the membership fee.

5.3 Members who have retired shall be exempted from the membership fee.

5.4 Each member shall pay the applicable membership fee to the Association, unless the membership fee is waived.