Cap. 607 Art. 17Quality Assurance Committee. 

(1) Without prejudice to anything that may be provided for in this Act, there shall be a Quality Assurance

Committee, hereinafter referred to as "the Committee", which shall be independent and autonomous in its decisions and shall be responsible for quality assurance audits for further and higher educational institutions.

(2) Decisions taken by the Committee are to be communicated to the Board which shall take the decision relating to licensing on the basis of the audits carried out by the Committee.

(3) The Committee shall be appointed by the Board after a public call, where the selection committee shall be made up from the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or a representative appointed by him, and the person responsible for the Quality and Standards within the Authority. The Committee shall be made up of the following members:

(a) one (1) person in possession of a qualification at MQF Level 8 in the Arts sector who shall be appointed for a maximum period of three (3) years;

(b) one (1) person in possession of a qualification at MQF Level 8 in the Science sector who shall be appointed for a maximum period of three (3) years;

(c) one (1) person in possession of a qualification at MQF Level 8 in the Vocational Education sector who shall be appointed for a maximum period of three (3) years;

(d) two (2) persons having expertise in Quality Assurance in Education who shall be appointed for a maximum period of four (4) years;

(e) a lawyer who has the necessary experience and qualities according to law to be appointed as a magistrate who shall be appointed for a maximum period of three (3) years;

(f) one (1) person from the Medical sector or ancillary professions who shall be appointed for a maximum period of three (3) years;

(g) two (2) students who are following a full programme of studies leading to a qualification at MQF Level 7 or higher and who shall occupy the role for a maximum period of two (2) years.

(4) The members referred to above shall elect from amongst themselves a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson.

(5) The Committee established under this article shall compile and send to the Authority an annual report, not later than four

(4) weeks after the end of each financial year, on its activities during that year, including the policies, functions and future plans of the Committee. Such reports shall be integrated with the annual report to be compiled and sent by the Authority to the Minister.

(6) The provisions of article 9 shall, apply mutatis mutandis, to the members of the Committee established under this article.

(7) The meetings of the Committee shall be called by the Chairperson of the Committee as often as may be necessary but at least once every month either on his own initiative or at the request of any two (2) of the other members.

(8) The quorum for meetings of the Committee shall be half the number of its members plus one (1), one (1) of whom shall be the Chairperson or the Deputy Chairperson.

(9) Decisions of the Committee shall be taken by a majority of the votes of the members present. In the case of parity of votes cast, the Chairperson shall also have a casting vote.

(10) Any member of the Committee who has any direct or indirect interest in any matter or situation being considered by the Committee, not being an interest which disqualifies such member from remaining a member, shall disclose the nature of his interest at the first meeting of the Committee after the relevant facts have come to his knowledge. Such disclosure shall then be recorded in the minutes of the meeting, and the member having an interest as aforesaid shall withdraw from any meetings at which such matter or situation is discussed. Any such disclosure shall be communicated to the Board without delay. Where, in the opinion of the Board, the interest of the member is such as to disqualify him from remaining a Committee member, the Board may terminate his appointment as a member of the Committee.