Organisational Structure

New Organisational Structure of EARLI

Over the years, EARLI has grown in membership, office staff members and more importantly, in the number and complexity of activities supported. As a consequence, the workload for the EARLI President and the members of the Executive Committee has increased accordingly. Each of these members has taken up responsibility for a specific portfolio (Publications, Funding, SIGs, JURE, etc.) and the President takes up responsibility for the management, external relations and other issues.
In previous Executive Committee meetings, this issue was discussed and it was decided to explore the possibility of creating an appropriate structure to this changing situation. As a first decision, the Executive Committee has moved the EARLI Office close to Brussels in order to have an office in the centre of Europe and close to the EU officials. As a second step, the Executive Committee has recently decided to create the position of Managing Director. This function is meant to fullfil the role of implementing the decisions made by the Executive Committee and the President of EARLI.
The Managing Director (MD) will be responsible for the accurate and efficient functioning of the EARLI Office. In accordance with article 33 of EARLI, the function will be installed for the coming 4 years in view of the following general requirements.
The Managing Director knows the Association profoundly, so a membership of EARLI for at least 5 years and membership of at least 1 Executive Committee is required to be appointed by the Executive Committee as an ex-officio member.
The Managing Director will be an academic or a person experienced in both EARLI matters and management issues, preferably residing at the university where the EARLI Office is located.
The Managing Director will be appointed by the Executive Committee for a renewable term of 4 years and invest an amount of time approximately equal to one day a week. Nevertheless, the Executive Committee will have the possibility to change this agreement on the term and time investment on a yearly basis.
The Managing Director works under the supervision of the Executive Committee and its President.
The Managing Director acts as the head of personnel of the EARLI Office and coaches, supports and supervises the activities of the EARLI Office personnel on a daily basis.
The Managing director will have the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the decisions taken by the Executive Committee.
In close cooperation with the Executive Committee and after approval of the EARLI President, the Managing Director can propose to the Executive Committee the appointment of new staff members and raises in salary for staff members.

Decision making, policy development and ultimate responsibility for the future orientation of EARLI will remain with the EARLI President and the Executive Committee.
At present, the Managing Director supervises the activities of the EARLI Project Manager (scientific projects, context related activities, funding and policy/management related activities) and the EARLI Officer (administration, EARLI Net Mailing List and website). Possibly, new personnel will be added as soon as projects are funded by external agencies. Current activities and future projects will be coordinated so that communication and tasks are completed on a timely basis involving colleagues from the EARLI membership, as deemed appropriate on a case-by-case basis.

The above mentioned development implies that EARLI will function under a new structure. We are convinced that this structure will lead to a fluent and flexible management of our Association, ready for new challenges in the near future.

The incoming President will have the task to evaluate the functioning of the current structure after 3 years (in 2008-2009) and to make amendments when found appropriate.

The Executive Committee has recently invited Prof. Filip Dochy to take up the role of Managing Director. The Executive Committee has appointed him accordingly.

We are convinced that our organisation will be able to develop in the desired direction, being the leading European Association for researchers in our field, without losing the character of a rather overseeable membership where we meet each other in small groups, SIGs and other meetings.