About ESAI

The Educational Studies Association of Ireland is a voluntary, non-political body, dedicated to the advancement of educational research in Ireland.

Its various conferences provide a public forum where research findings are presented, educational ideas are voiced and a richer understanding of educational practice is promoted.

Membership of the Association is open to all those with a research interest in education, whether they work in universities, in colleges, in schools, in managerial bodies, in administrative or policy-making positions, or as unwaged persons.

A primary aim of the ESAI is to ensure, as far as possible, that educational discourse in Ireland remains grounded in perspectives which are adequately acquainted with the evidence from the various disciplines of educational research and that educational policy-making at all levels remains similarly informed by arguments which are educationally sound.

ESAI is a CLG, Company Limited by Guarantee.

ESAI Constitution

<strong>Article 1: Name of the Association</strong>
The name of the Association shall be The Educational Studies Association of Ireland, or in the Irish language, Cumann Léann Oideachais na hÉireann.
<strong>Article 2: Nature, Aims and Activities of the Association</strong>

The Association shall be a voluntary, non-political, non-sectarian body, dedicated to the advancement of educational research in Ireland. This Constitution shall enable the Association to pursue such activities as are in keeping with its nature and purposes as an Association. In particular, the Association will organise conferences, either under its own auspices or in association with other bodies, for the presentation and discussion of educational ideas, the dissemination of research findings, and the promotion of a richer understanding of educational practice. It will publish a journal of educational research and engage in such other publishing activities as are best calculated to advance its purposes.

The Association shall, through its various activities, seek to ensure that public educational discourse in Ireland remains acquainted with educational research activity and enlightened by research perspectives. It shall seek to provide a forum for a wide diversity of perspectives on educational questions, provided that the voicing of such perspectives observes the requirements and discipline of academic freedom. The Association shall not align itself, or allow itself to become aligned, with any sectional interest or sectarian group.

<strong>Article 3: Membership</strong>

Individual membership of the Association shall be open to all those who have an interest in research in education, whether they work in universities, in colleges, in schools, in managerial bodies, in administrative or policy-making positions, or as unwaged persons. Individual members will receive a free copy of the Association’s journal and newsletter, will receive advance notice of the Association’s activities, and will be eligible to participate in these activities at preferential rates.

Associate membership shall be available at a reduced rate to students who are pursuing a course of advanced studies in education. Associate members shall be entitled to the same benefits as individual members. Associate membership shall not be available to those who have completed their course of advanced study. Associate membership is offered with a view to encouraging graduate students to become individual (full) members on completion of their studies.

Corporate membership shall be available to institutions and organisations engaged in activities of an educational nature. Corporate members will receive a copy of the journal and Newsletter, will receive advance notice of the Association’s activities and will be entitled to nominate two members to participate in the activities of the Association at the preferential rates for members.

Non-members shall be eligible to participate in the activities of the Association at the discretion of the Executive Committee, and at higher rates than those available to members.

The Executive Committee shall be empowered to rescind the membership of any member whose activities as a member contravene the aims and purposes of the Association.

<strong>Article 4: Management of the Association's Business</strong>

The management of the Association’s business shall be in the hands of an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the following officers:

President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Vice-President will be the President-elect. Each office will be held for two consecutive years. The President is not eligible for immediate nomination or re-election to the Executive Committee but may remain on the Executive Committee at the invitation of the Executive Committee as an ex-officio member for a period of up to two years. The Secretary and Treasurer are eligible for immediate re-election for one further term of two years. Election to office shall take place at an Annual General Meeting.

In addition, four members of the Association shall be elected as members of the Executive Committee for a term of three years. The retiring members shall be eligible for re-election for one further term of three years.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt no more than four members of the Association, whose period of office shall be two years.

The General Editor and Business Editor shall be members ex officio of the Executive Committee, as representatives of the Editorial Board.

The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year, and at such other times as the Committee shall determine, to arrange meetings of the Association, admit new members, administer the finances of the Association and deal with all such matters as concern the implementation of the purposes of the Association.

At all meetings of the Executive Committee four members, two of whom must be in office, shall form a quorum.

The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint sub-committees from among members of the Association.

The officers of the Executive Committee shall, in accordance with the provisions of Article 10, appoint a Membership Secretary, who shall have responsibility for receiving membership applications, keeping the Association’s register of members and mailing lists updated, and carrying out such other duties as are agreed with the officers of the Executive Committee. The Membership Secretary shall not be a member of the Executive Committee.

<strong>Article 5: Editorial Board</strong>

The Executive Committee shall appoint an Editorial Board, consisting of a General Editor, a Business Editor and up to six assistant editors. The Executive Committee may also appoint an editorial panel with international representation. The Editorial Board shall be a sub-committee of the Executive Committee and shall report to the Executive Committee.

The Editorial Board shall hold its term of office for a period of three years. Any member of the Editorial Board may normally be eligible for nomination for a further term, subject to a maximum of two consecutive terms. The General Editor shall normally be eligible to serve as General Editor for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The Editorial Board shall be responsible for the publication and distribution of the Association’s journal and for the publication and updating of a register of educational research carried out in Irish universities. It may also engage in such other publishing activities as are judged to advance the purposes of the Association.

<strong>Article 6: Subscription</strong>
Every individual member shall pay to the Membership Secretary an annual subscription approved by the Association at an Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee shall decide the appropriate subscription for corporate membership and associate membership. Membership subscriptions for all categories of members shall fall due in January of each year. The non-renewal of membership shall result in membership becoming lapsed.
<strong>Article 7: General Meetings</strong>

An Annual General Meeting shall be held on a date and at a time and place to be fixed by the Executive Committee. The business of such meeting shall be the election of officers and Committee members when their terms of office expire, the appointment of auditors, the passing of accounts, and such other business as shall have been communicated to the Secretary and included in the agenda distributed by the Secretary to the members.

An annual Education Conference shall normally take place in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting and will be devoted mainly to the reading and discussion of papers on educational topics.

The Executive Committee shall be empowered to call an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). An EGM can be called on the instruction of the Executive or by a petition to the Executive signed by at least 40 members of the Association. Notice of an EGM, including the agenda, shall be circulated to members at least 21 days ahead of the proposed date of the meeting. The business of an EGM shall be confined to the items listed on the published agenda. An EGM shall otherwise be subject to the provisions of Article 7 for the conduct of an AGM.

The Executive Committee shall be empowered to conduct a postal ballot of its members in the event that a matter under consideration is of a nature serious enough to merit the consultation and the approval of the membership of the Association. A postal ballot shall not be used to override or alter the provisions of the constitution and shall be governed by a code of practice published by the Executive. A motion presented to the membership by postal ballot shall be deemed approved if supported by no less than 30% of the registered membership of the association who have returned correctly filled ballot papers to the appointed returning officer. A postal ballot may only be implemented on the instruction of the Executive Committee who shall have absolute discretion regarding the inclusion of explanatory, interpretive or lobbying material, subject to the principles of justice and equity.

Any member wishing to have a resolution considered at the Annual General Meeting shall give notice thereof to the Secretary not less than three weeks before the date of such meeting. The agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be distributed to members by the Hon. Secretary. The business at an Annual General Meeting shall be limited to that provided by these rules and those further matters approved by the Executive Committee for inclusion in the agenda.

The quorum at any Annual General Meeting shall be twenty.

<strong>Article 8: Accounts</strong>

The accounts shall be audited not less than twenty-eight days before the Annual General Meeting by a professional accountant who shall be appointed at each Annual General Meeting and who shall not be a member of the Association.

Full accounts of the financial affairs of the Association, duly audited by the auditors, shall be delivered to every member with the agenda for the Annual General meeting.

<strong>Article 9: Amendment of Constitution</strong>

The Constitution may be added to, repealed, or amended by resolution, at any Annual General Meeting, provided that no such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless it is carried by a majority of at least two-thirds of the members present.

Written notice of proposed amendments must be supported by the signatures of not less than eight members of the Association and must be received by the Secretary not less than three weeks before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

<strong>Article 10: Contracts</strong>
The officers of the Executive Committee, namely the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, are authorised on behalf of the Association’s members to enter into contracts relating to the management of the Association and its affairs, including its publications.
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