Internal regulations

GDAAA internal regulations

Article 1: Remuneration:

  • None of the functions related to participation in the consortium bodies are remunerated. According to article 15 of the statutes; In the context of a civil, non-profit Economic Interest Group (GIE), the social contributions of employees are the direct responsibility of the member companies.
  • Members of the GIE GDAAA individually pay social security contributions based on their own staff and social charges relating to their participation in the GIE.

Article 2: Financing

  • Our civil non-profit Economic Interest Group (GIE) has restrictions on invoicing, as its primary objective is to facilitate collaboration between its members without generating profits. However, it may receive membership fees or contributions from its members to cover its operating costs.
  1. Sources of Funding : The organization’s funding comes from membership fees, grants, donations, and any other resources authorized by law.
  2. Contributions : The amount of annual contributions is set by the General Meeting on the proposal of the Board of Directors.

Key points:

  1. Non-profit : A non-profit civil EIG cannot seek profit as an objective in itself. Any contribution activity must strictly aim to cover the costs related to the services provided to members, without profit margin.
  2. Contributions and fees : The financing of the EIG is done by the contributions of the members. These contributions cover the operating expenses.
  3. Limited contribution : If the EIG must provide services to its members, it may in certain cases re-invoice them for the costs incurred. However, this invoicing must be limited to actual costs, without profit margin.
  4. Non-submission to VAT for contributions without consideration : Contributions paid by members of a civil EIG, intended solely to cover operating costs and without the provision of a specific service in consideration, are generally not subject to VAT. In fact, these contributions are considered as a contribution to the financing of the EIG and not as a payment for a service.
  5. Provision of services subject to VAT : If the GIE provides specific services to third parties for remuneration (even in the form of re-invoicing of costs), this service is subject to VAT.
  6. Invoicing at actual cost : If the GIE re-invoices specific expenses incurred on behalf of its members, this re-invoicing is subject to VAT, unless it is considered to be “re-invoicing at actual cost” without added margin.
  7. Documentation and transparency : To avoid VAT issues, the EIG must properly document the use of contributions, ensuring that the funds are only allocated to operating expenses and do not constitute compensation for services rendered with added value.

Article 3: Members

Our civil non-profit Economic Interest Group (GIE) is dedicated to the mobility of students, teachers and researchers, members have a specific status that gives them certain rights and obligations, but which is also adapted to the non-profit mission of supporting mobility. Here are the main elements concerning the status of members in this context in Tunisia:

  1. Status of mobility participants :
    • Students : Students going on GDAAA mobility retain their student status at their home institution and are exempt from tuition fees at the host university to help cover living expenses, based on the cost of living in the host country.
    • Teachers and researchers : They retain their status in their original institution and participate in training or teaching missions. They may receive financial assistance to cover their travel and accommodation expenses.
    • Administrative and technical staff : They can also participate in training periods abroad to exchange practices and develop skills. This strengthens the capacities of partner institutions and promotes cooperation.
  2. Membership : Members of an EIG are generally legal entities (universities, research centers, educational institutions) or public/private entities with a common interest in the field of academic mobility. Their role is to contribute to the objectives of the EIG, without seeking personal profit, but with the common objective of facilitating academic and professional exchanges.
  3. Rights and obligations of members : Each member participates in the strategic and operational decisions of the EIG, in particular with regard to the management of mobility programs and shared resources. Members may also be involved in the co -creation and implementation of projects supported by the EIG. In return, they are required to pay their contributions for the operation of the EIG and to comply with legal and regulatory obligations.
  4. Mobility of students, teachers and researchers : The members of a civil EIG facilitate the mobility of their affiliates (students, teachers, researchers) by relying on cooperation agreements that allow academic exchanges. This may include mobility grants, exchange programs, and academic partnerships to promote training and collaborative research.
  5. Agreements for the recognition and validation of studies : In an EIG dedicated to academic mobility, members can conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements to recognize and validate diplomas, credits, and experiences acquired during exchanges. This ensures that mobility periods are counted in the academic path of students and in the careers of teachers and researchers.
  6. Taxation and exemptions : In some cases, due to the non-profit status and the educational objective, the GIE can benefit from tax exemptions for its mobility-related activities. This often includes an exemption from VAT on certain services of general interest related to education and research.
  7. Legal framework and social protection : Members must ensure that mobility conditions comply with local and international regulations on social protection, in particular by ensuring insurance coverage for students, teachers and researchers on mobility. They must also ensure that participants comply with the rules of residence and work in the countries concerned, where applicable.
  1. Project partners : GDAAA members are mainly higher education institutions (universities, grandes écoles), but also training institutions, research centers, non-profit organizations, and sometimes companies. These partners work together in the framework of international cooperation projects, where mobility is one of the main axes.
  2. Interinstitutional agreements : To participate in GDAAA mobility , institutions must sign interinstitutional agreements with their partners. These agreements define the terms of academic recognition, the number of students and staff in mobility, the mobility periods, as well as the reception conditions. These agreements facilitate the validation of credits for students, and the recognition of professional experience for teachers and staff.
  3. Status of mobility participants :
    • Students : Students going on GDAAA mobility retain their student status at their home institution and are exempt from tuition fees at the host university to help cover living expenses, based on the cost of living in the host country.
    • Teachers and researchers : They retain their status in their original institution and participate in training or teaching missions. They may receive financial assistance to cover their travel and accommodation expenses.
    • Administrative and technical staff : They can also participate in training periods abroad to exchange practices and develop skills. This strengthens the capacities of partner institutions and promotes cooperation.
  4. Academic recognition and validation : Credits obtained by students on mobility are managed by the transferable member university organizations and recognized in their home institution via the credit system. Teachers and researchers, for their part, can see their mobility period recognized in their professional career.
  5. Conditions of stay : mobility participants can benefit from simplifications for their stay in the partner country (visa, social protection, insurance). The GDAAA agreement with members includes measures to guarantee access to medical care and social security for participants by member organizations.
  6. Scholarships and financial support : GDAAA provides financial support for students, teachers, and staff on mobility; funded by member organizations or by donors. GDAAA scholarships are calculated based on the cost of living in the host country and aim to make mobility more accessible. Teachers and staff may receive specific allowances for their living and transportation costs from member organizations, partners or donors.
  7. Commitment to inclusion and equity : GDAAA also places a particular emphasis on inclusion and equity by supporting participants with fewer opportunities (disability, economic difficulties, etc.) with specific aids to promote their mobility.
  8. Support from host institutions : International relations offices at host universities typically offer support to guide participants through visa and residency procedures, providing information on deadlines, required documents, and local specificities.
  9. Social contributions : For teachers and staff on mobility, social contributions are often maintained in the country of origin, in order to guarantee the continuity of social coverage for the duration of their stay abroad.
  10. Insurance for international mobility : For GDAAA mobility, mobility insurance coverage is often required, and it can be partially or fully subsidized by the host establishments.
  11. Supplemental health insurance : It is often recommended, and sometimes required by universities, to purchase supplemental health insurance. This may include coverage for care not covered locally, as well as medical repatriation and other services.
  12. Liability insurance : GDAAA mobility participants are often required to take out liability insurance to cover any material or bodily damage they may cause to third parties during their stay.
  13. Insurance offered by the host institution : In some cases, universities or member or partner organisations provide specific insurance covering both health, civil liability, and sometimes accident insurance for their participants. This insurance is often essential in the context of mobility for students and staff members.
  14. International Office Support : Host universities have international offices dedicated to supporting participants. They provide practical information on administrative procedures, including registration, housing, and insurance and health care issues.
  15. Support for local administrative procedures : Some universities offer support for procedures with local administrations, such as registering residence or opening bank accounts.

The Executive Office

BEL HABIB Nejib