Present:
Dr Bernardo Adiviso, Colombo Plan Staff College for Technician Education, The Philippines
John Bartram, Commonwealth of Learning
George Boggs, American Association of Community Colleges
Gerry Brown, Association of Canadian Community Colleges
CHAN Lee Mun, Council of Polytechnic Principals, Singapore
Jim Doyle, Association of Polytechnics in New Zealand
Dr Nicholas Gara, Higher Colleges of Technology (representing Dr Tayeb Kamali)
David Gibson, Association of Colleges, UK
Perive Lene, Pacific Association of TVET Providers
Barry Peddle, TAFE Directors Australia
William Rwambulla, Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa
Frans Schneider, EFVET
Molly Venter, AFETISA
In attendance:
Jo Clough, Secretariat (Association of Colleges)
Rita Dobson, Secretariat (Association of Colleges)
Apologies:
Dr Tayeb Kamali, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE
David Gibson welcomed members to this last meeting of the World Federation Steering Committee and acknowledged all the work done by members over the last three years. Mr Gibson welcomed the launch of the World Federation at this 2nd World Congress of Colleges and Polytechnics and expressed his gratitude to members for all the support he had received in his capacity as Chair of the Steering Committee. He then welcomed CHAN Lee Mun, Dr Bernardo Adiviso and Perive Lene to the meeting and introduced members to Dr Nicholas Gara who was attending in place of Dr Tayeb Kamali who had sent apologies.
John Bartram announced the results of the election of World Federation members in accordance with the new Constitution approved at the General Meeting of Members on 24th March 2002. He reminded members that 11 nominations had been received by the Secretariat for the 9 existing Board places. The following 9 nominees had received the highest number of votes and were thereby elected:
George Boggs, American Association of Community Colleges
Gerry Brown, Association of Canadian Community Colleges
CHAN Lee Mun, Council of Polytechnic Principals, Singapore
Jim Doyle, Association of Polytechnics in New Zealand
David Gibson, Association of Colleges, UK
Barry Peddle, TAFE Directors Australia
William Rwambulla, Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa
Frans Schneider, EFVET
Molly Venter, AFETISA
It was noted that the election of officers would not take place until Wednesday 27th March at 08.00 hours, giving the new Board a chance to interact before the elections. David Gibson was asked to act as Interim Chair of the World Federation which he accepted. Mr Gibson suggested, as per the Steering Committee’s recommendations to the new Board, that the two unsuccessful nominees be co-opted onto the Board at this stage so that an announcement concerning the election results could appear in the following day’s Congress newsletter. Members agreed unanimously that this be the new Board’s first action and accepted the following two members onto the Board as co-options.
Dr Tayeb Kamali, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE
Perive Lene, Pacific Association of TVET Providers
It was agreed that members had insufficient time at this meeting to thoroughly inspect the financial report of the AoC concerning the World Federation budget and therefore it was agreed to defer this agenda item to the next meeting of the Board at 08.00 hours on Wednesday 27th March 2002.
The group was presented with a bid to host the 3rd World Congress of Colleges and Polytechnics in South Africa in 2004. Molly Venter presented the bid and the meeting was joined at this time by Mr Steve Mommen of the Ministry of Education in South Africa.
A question was raised over the number of delegates likely to attend a conference in South Africa and where, geographically, these delegates would be from. Members heard that conferences in South Africa often attract upto 800 delegates from Africa alone and that international delegates could number over 1000. Members agreed that increased membership of the World Federation would ensure a higher number of delegates at future Congresses.
A question was raised over how the small AFETISA team mentioned in the presentation would manage a Congress of this potential size. Members heard that a large committee would manage the Congress planning and that other members of staff would be hired as and when required. Members also heard Ms Venter assure full Government backing of a Congress in South Africa.
A question was raised over budgetary figures and Ms Venter reminded members that the budget in this presentation was in draft form and would need to be reviewed. Ms Venter offered to produce a more detailed budget for a future meeting of the Board.
Several members raised a concern over security issues in that part of Africa but Ms Venter assured members that the necessary and appropriate security measures would be taken at all Congress events. Some members were concerned that Johannesburg in particular did not have a safe reputation and that this reputation may discourage potential delegates from attending the Congress. Ms Venter suggested that all major cities have security issues and that delegates would be encouraged not to venture into areas deemed unsafe where they may be vulnerable.
Members agreed to consider this bid over the course of the next 12 hours when a decision would be reached at the first meeting of the Board at 08.00 hours on Wednesday 27th March.
The new Board agreed to re-convene the following morning.