Quality Assurance Committee Terms of Reference

Last Updated: 1st January 2022

1.

The quality and technical aspects of karate within Shotokan Connect shall be controlled by a Quality Assurance Committee appointed by the Founder Members of Shotokan Connect. The Quality Assurance Committee shall meet at agreed intervals and not less than four times per year.

2.

The duties of the Quality Assurance Committee shall be to determine technical matters and rules, such as the grading rules and syllabus, appointment of kyu and dan grading examiners, kata standardisation and competition rules.

3.

The Quality Assurance Committee will consist of five Shotokan Connect members, appointed by the Founding Members.

4.

Three of the five members of the Quality Assurance Committee will be senior grade members of Shotokan Connect, 5th dan or above.

5.

The other two members of the Quality Assurance Committee will be dan grade members of Shotokan Connect, who are considered to have particular skills, knowledge and/or experience that would benefit the function of the Quality Assurance Committee.

6.

Decisions made by the Quality Assurance Committee will be of two types:

6.1

decisions requiring the assent of the Steering Committee

6.2

decisions requiring ratification by the Steering Committee;

7.

Decisions requiring the assent of the Steering Committee

7.1

Decisions requiring the assent of the Steering Committee are operational decisions that affect Shotokan Connect as an organisation. Such decisions include, but are not limited to, those regarding the grading rules and syllabus, kata standardisation and competition rules.

7.2

Decisions requiring the assent of the Steering Committee must be agreed by all five members of the Quality Assurance Committee prior to assent by the Steering Committee.

7.3

If assent is not given by the Steering Committee to a decision made by the Quality Assurance Committee, the decision of the Quality Assurance Committee will stand, but will be reviewed by the Quality Assurance Committee after a minimum of three calendar months and a maximum of twelve calendar months.

7.4

Following the review by the Quality Assurance Committee, the decision or amended decision, will be returned to the Steering Committee together with a report on the review and justification for the resubmitted decision.

8.

Decisions requiring ratification by the Steering Committee

8.1

Decisions requiring the ratification by the Steering Committee are decisions that affect individuals within Shotokan Connect. Such decisions include, but are not limited to, the appointment of grading examiners, the invitation of 5th dans to grade for their 6th dan and the award of grades of 7th dan and above.

8.2

Decisions requiring the ratification of the Steering Committee must be agreed by a majority of the five members of the Quality Assurance Committee prior to ratification by the Steering Committee.

8.3

If the Steering Committee does not ratify a decision made by the Quality Assurance Committee, the decision of the Quality Assurance Committee will not stand. The decision must then be reconsidered by the Quality Assurance Committee in negotiation with the Steering Committee until a resolution can be agreed, and the final decision ratified.

8.4

If after 12 calendar months a resolution has not been agreed, the Founder Members of Shotokan Connect will be asked to resolve the issue by making a decision based on a simple majority vote.

9.

All members of the Steering Committee are appointed for a period of two years.

10.

Any member of the Quality Assurance Committee who fails to fulfil their responsibilities, or is absent from three consecutive meetings, will be required to step down from their position as a member of the committee.