MITTEILUNGSBLATT

DER

KARL-FRANZENS-UNIVERSITÄT GRAZ

www.uni-graz.at/zvwww/miblatt.html

9. SONDERNUMMER

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Studienjahr 2010/11 Ausgegeben am 23. 11. 2011 8.a Stück

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      Founding Declaration 

Russian East European Eurasian Studies Centre

(Law Faculty, University of Graz, Austria)

Impressum: Medieninhaber, Herausgeber und Hersteller: Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz,

Universitätsplatz 3, 8010 Graz. Verlags- und Herstellungsort: Graz.

Anschrift der Redaktion: Administration und Dienstleistungen, Universitätsdirektion, Universitätsplatz 3,

8010 Graz. E-Mail: mitteilungsblatt@uni-graz.at

Founding Declaration

Russian East European Eurasian Studies Centre

(Law Faculty, University of Graz, Austria)

1. PREAMBLE

The University of Graz

Bearing in mind the role of the United Nations, the European Union and other international and regional organisations in political, economic, legal and other social and cultural fields,

Mindful of the United Nations General Assembly resolution 230/65 of 21 December 2010 (Annex) which recognized the centrality of crime prevention and the criminal justice system to the rule of law and stressed that long-term sustainable economic and social development and the establishment of a functioning, efficient, effective and humane criminal justice system have a positive influence on each other,

Emphasising the importance of co-operation with other parts of the world for better international and intercultural understanding, facilitating peace and security of mankind through education and training in the legal field,

Emphasising also the role of international, intergovernmental, non-governmental and civic organisations in building bridges among nations, peoples and cultures,

Emphasising finally the role of international and national educational and training institutions for national and international co-operation with the objective to optimise and co-ordinate research potential and field project expertise and their contributive role to facilitating peace and security through legal field programmes and projects,

establishes the Russian East European and Eurasian Studies Centre (hereinafter “REEES”).

2.   SUBJECT

2.1. Objective

REEES has the objective to act as a catalyst in defining an international and intercultural research agenda with a view to fostering linkages between academic research and policy-oriented practical interventions. Its initial task is to optimise existing potentials for research programmes and project expertise within the Law Faculty of the University of Graz related to the target areas (see below section 2.3), which is to be followed by comprehensive inter-disciplinary research programmes both within the University of Graz and with academic partners, government and non-government organisations as well as other stakeholders in the target areas.

The vision of REEES is to transcend the boundaries of legal scholarship and rise to the complexity of social and cultural relations that form the background against which law operates. It, therefore, adopts a holistic approach to law, in particular with regard to the intercultural dimensions of collaborative work with the target areas.

2.2. Activities

REEES initializes, coordinates and supports regional research programmes and projects. It acts as an interface for country-specific as well as professional expertise regarding law in Eastern Europe and Eurasia. In addition, REEES acquires application-oriented contract research and harmonises it with existing resources of the related institutes and institutions at the University of Graz.

REEES manages its work at an advanced scientific level in research, education and training. The activities are carried out in the form of programmes and projects. REEES promotes the transfer of knowledge by disseminating its research results to intergovernmental and governmental institutions or agencies that are responsible for implementing co-operation strategies domestically and / or internationally.

2.3 Target areas

The geographical target areas of REEES in research, education and training programmes and projects are Russia, the countries in the Black Sea/Southern Caucasus region and Central Asia. The specific country-approach may vary, but apart from bilateral issues as defined from the perspective of the Republic of Austria, regional approaches in line with the relevant EU strategies are given preference. The definition of target areas does not preclude that activities cover neighbouring countries and the relevant regions in a wider context as well.

3. CO-OPERATION

3.1. Intra-university co-operation

REEES adopts an interdisciplinary approach to its work and offers co-operation to all faculties and disciplines of the University of Graz with an interest in the target regions. In particular, it maintains close co-operation with inter-faculty institutions such as the Centre for South-East European Studies, the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, and the Academy of New Media and Transfer of Knowledge.

3.2. Cooperation with institutions outside the University of Graz

REEES is member of international scholarly networks and cooperates with national and international government and non-government organisations.

4. LEGAL STATUS

4.1. Centre under § 15 Organisation Plan

The Rectorate establishes REEES as a Centre under § 15 of the organisation plan of the University of Graz, it belongs to the science branch of law. It reports to the Dean of the Law Faculty as well as to the Rector of the University. 

4.2. Assignment of staff and academic output

University staff working at REEES that are not normally assigned to REEES but to other co-operating academic units of the University of Graz (hereinafter “Core Staff”) remain assigned to the respective academic units of the University of Graz (hereinafter “Home Institutes”) and report to the heads of these academic/organisational units. University staff assigned to REEES report to the REEES Director.

The provision of services by Core Staff at REEES is subject to a framework agreement drawn up with the heads of the co-operating academic units and agreed upon at the Faculty level. Besides, an agreement between the employee’s superior at the Home Institute, the REEES Director and the employee is required on the percentage of the working time the employee is assigned to REEES (in the case of employees who hold the titles of “o.Univ.-Prof.”, “Univ.-Prof.”, or “ao.Univ.-Prof.” the types of services they provide have to be indicated and a note that their duties and responsibilities at the Home Institute remain unaffected has to be included). Details on the duties and responsibilities at REEES will be agreed upon by the REEES Director and the employee.

Staff for projects under §§ 26 to 28 University Act 2002 (Universitätsgesetz 2002) are assigned to REEES and report to the REEES Director in matters concerning employment and to the project director in matters concerning the project.

REEES agrees to acknowledge in all published works, publications, and on all websites that the centre is an entity of the University of Graz.

4.3. Internal structure

REEES is established within the Dean’s Office of the Law Faculty of the University of Graz. It is chaired by a Director; its staff includes programme officers and secretarial support. Depending on external funding there are prae-doc as well as post-doc researchers working on individual projects.

4.4. Director

The REEES Director is the head of the Centre and represents it. In order to carry out the duties and responsibilities attached to the office of REEES Director the Rector authorises the REEES Director to:

1. Acquire assets and rights through gratuitous legal transactions;

2. Accept external funding;

3. Conclude agreements on academic and non-academic work;

4. Use assets and rights acquired in accordance with the foregoing paragraphs 1 to 3 in line with the objectives of REEES.

The REEES Director ensures that the foreseen activities of REEES are carried out in accordance with legal requirements and internal rules and regulations of the University of Graz, in particular with the authorisation directive (Bevollmächtigungs-Richtlinie) of the University of Graz. § 27 University Act 2002 (Universitätsgesetz 2002) applies accordingly.

4.5. Deputy Director

On proposal of the REEES Director, the Rector appoints a Deputy Director. The Deputy Director represents the REEES Director when the latter is absent or otherwise unable to act for a longer period of time until the appointment of a new or interim REEES Director.

4.6.  Advisory Board

REEES is supported in meeting its objectives by advisory boards. Advisory boards can be established both on a programme basis and for the entire REEES as such. A Model Statute for Advisory Boards is annexed hereto.

4.7.  Provision of services and reimbursement of costs

When REEES uses staff and equipment of the University of Graz for projects under §§ 26 to 28 University Act 2002 (Universitätsgesetz 2002), REEES reimburses the University in accordance with the guidelines on the reimbursement of costs incurred by projects under §§ 26 to 28 University Act 2002 (Universitätsgesetz 2002), as amended. Where reimbursement is based on a lump sum, costs of services that are standard services by the University of Graz and that are provided by REEES itself are deducted.

REEES reimburses the University of Graz all costs borne by the University but incurred by REEES project activities under §§ 26 to 28 University Act 2002 (Universitätsgesetz 2002).

The Dean and the REEES Director specifically agree on all payments to REEES in the agreement on objectives. Services REEES provides to the University of Graz and the coverage of costs incurred by REEES are specified in the agreement on objectives.

If REEES funds are insufficient due to no or low revenues, the University of Graz reserves the right to use all assets/funds assigned to REEES or funds suitable according to the provisions of the University Act 2002 (Universitätsgesetz 2002) to cover the Centre’s accounts payable. In the case of insufficient funds, the REEES Director immediately submits a restructuring plan and/or a plan detailing actions to cover shortfalls to the Dean. Funds acquired from external sources are available to REEES subject to earmarks.

4.8.  Agreement on objectives

The REEES Director concludes agreements on objectives with the Dean.

4.9.  External funding

REEES uses funds secured from external sources in accordance with the objectives of the Centre, unless these funds are earmarked for specific use (projects under § 28 University Act 2002 [Universitätsgesetz 2002]).

4.10. Quality management/Evaluation

Quality management guidelines of the University of Graz fully apply to REEES. The first evaluation of REEES will be carried out three years after its establishment and then at intervals of three years. If REEES is evaluated negatively, the Rector and the Dean of the Faculty of Law will mutually decide on maintaining or dissolving the Centre.

5. EFFECTIVE DATE

The Rectorate decided to establish REEES on 3^rd of November 2011. The Founding Declaration enters into force on the day following its publication in the official gazette (Mitteilungsblatt) of the University of Graz.

¹ S/PRST/2010/4 of 24 February 2010.