Overview and Legal information

IN BRIEF / EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Legal NameEUCLID (English) | EUCLIDE (French)
Official sitewww.euclid.int (under IANA rules for .int domains)
Not to be confused with the following(1) Euclid University Consortium (2) Euclid Consultancy (3) Euclid Consortium (Space) (4) Project Euclid (5) The Euclid Network
Extended Legal NameEuclid University (English) | Pôle Universitaire Euclide (French)
StatusPublic / Intergovernmental / Treaty-based
Statutes / CharterUnited Nations Treaty Series I-49006/49007
Dedicated Sitewww.euclidtreaty.org
University Categorization"International / Intergovernmental"
Similar InstitutionsSee list below
Participating UN Member States12 including 9 with completed UN treaty registration
Headquarters (English-language, ECOWAS)Banjul, Gambia
Headquarters (Historic | French-language)Bangui, Central African Republic (C.A.R.) (for UNESCO listing)
Other OfficesWashington DC (USA), Montpellier (France)
Secretary-General & Treaty DepositarySyed Zahid Ali
High Steward (Institutional "Président d'Honneur")President Faustin Archange Touadéra (of C.A.R.)
Diplomatic High StewardAmbassador Juan Avila, PhD (of Dominican Republic to the UN)

EUCLID is, like the European Central Bank, NATO or the African Union, an international intergovernmental organization(IGO).

It was established by treaty, under international law, in 2008. Its special status is indicated by the authorized use of the restricted ".int" domain.

EUCLID holds a university charter as well as a specific mandate in the field of higher education and sustainable development. It belongs to the exclusive group of intergovernmental universities (see below) having special status under international law, of which the most famous institutions are the United Nations University, the University for Peace, and the European University Institute.

EUCLID's constitutive text with its charter, approved by its Participating States, was duly registered and published in the United Nations Treaty Series (OMOU/UFA) in December 2010 according to the provisions of Article 102 of the United Nations Charter.


As of 2019, EUCLID serves 12 Participating States (just over 6% of the UN membership) spanning 4 continents (Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia-Pacific). 

Its primary service is to the government staff of its Participating States, but EUCLID also accepts a limited number of students from the general public as well as officials working for non-Participating States such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenya, etc. 

EUCLID has its headquarters in Banjul, Gambia and Bangui, Central African Republic, and is a full member in good standing of the Association of African Universities, and of United Nations Academic Impact, among others.

See also: EUCLID Participating States

See also: EUCLID's constitutive documents as filed with and published by the United Nations on treaties.un.org

AN "INTERNATIONAL / INTERGOVERNMENTAL UNIVERSITY"

EUCLID belongs to the exclusive category of "international / intergovernmental" institutions of higher learning established under international law, either directly by UN Member States or in some cases by UN-related organs and organizations.

In global universities databases and directories, these institutions are either listed in the "regional / international" group or under the national entry of their headquarters country, for instance the University for Peace under Costa Rica.

As of 2019, the other similar institutions are listed hereunder, sorted by date of establishment:

InstitutionEst.ILP?Legal StatusParent OrganizationCharterHQ
European University Institute1972YesIntergovernmental universitySelfAgreement between several EU Member States (no UNTS)Florence*
United Nations University1973NoAutonomous institution within the UNUnited NationsUN GA ResolutionTokyo*
Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI)1979YesIntergovernmental organization and international universitySelfAgreement establishing the ESAMIArusha*
University for Peace1980YesIntergovernmental organization and international universityUnited NationsAgreement between several UN Member States (UNTS)San Jose*
École Supérieure Multinationale des Télécommunications1981YesIntergovernmental organization and international universitySelf (UNDP project)Agreement between several AU Member States (no UNTS)Dakar*
World Maritime University1983NoInstitution within the IMOInternational Maritime OrganizationIMO GA ResolutionMalmö *
IMO International Maritime Law Institute1988NoUnclear, probably Institution within the IMOIMOAgreement between Malta and IMO (no UNTS)Valleta*
Academy of European Law1992NoPublic FoundationUnclearInternational Statutes (no UNTS)Trieste
Franco-German University1997YesNetwork of UniversitiesSelfAgreement between France and Germany (partial UNTS)Saarbrücken
Franco-Italian University1998NoBi-national institutionSelfAgreement between France and Italy (no UNTS)Grenoble
University of Central Asia2001UnclearInternational universitySelf (sponsored by Aga Khan Foundation)Agreement between 3 UN Member States (UNTS)Bishkek
African Virtual University2003YesIntergovernmental organization and international universityWorld Bank (sponsor)Agreement between 8 AU Member States (no UNTS)Kinshasa*
South Asian University2007YesInternational non-profit universitySAARCAgreement between 8 UU Member States (no UNTS)New Delhi
EUCLID2008YesIntergovernmental organization and international universityIOSD (as NGO)Agreement between several UN Member States (UNTS)Brussels, Bangui, Banjul+
TAU/DTU (Deutsch-Türkische Universität)2010?Binational institutionSelfAgreement between Turkey and Germany (partial UNTS)Ankara
AIT (Asian Institute of Technology)2011YesIntergovernmental organization and international universityAIT under previous formAgreement between several UN Member States (no UNTS)Pathum Thani
IACA (International Anti-Corruption Academy)2013YesIntergovernmental organization and international universityOECDAgreement between several UN Member States (UNTS)Laxenburg

(Note: ILP means "international legal personality")

Read also the full page or article on "Understanding the legal status and degree-granting authority of the "International Universities"" [Web | PDF] and the "Report on the Legal Status of International Universities (including Euclid University, 2015)"

EUCLID AS AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION

EUCLID's international legal personality and not-for-profit status are granted and confirmed by Article 1a of the constitutional agreement(s): 

"EUCLID (also properly called Pôle Universitaire Euclide and Euclid University) has legal personality, not-for-profit status, and such capacities as may be necessary to exercise its functions and fulfill its objectives." (UNTS I-49006 EIF 2008)

"EUCLID (also properly called Pôle Universitaire Euclide and Euclid University) already has and shall continue to have international legal personality, not-for-profit status, and such capacities as may be necessary to exercise its functions and fulfill its objectives."(UNTS I-49007 EIF 2009)

Other organizations having similar intergovernmental legal status (with various levels of scope and legal prerogatives) are the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, NATO, the European Space Agency, the World Bank, etc. This status is indicated by the restricted .int top-level domain [1 ] and [2 ]. For this reason, EUCLID used a .int instead of a .org or .edu domain. International intergovernmental organizations enjoy special status and legal protection in most countries, notably intellectually property protection for their name and emblems under the provisions of Article 6 of the Paris Convention. 

United Nations Treaty Section Certificate(s) of Registration 

World Intellectual Property Organization list of protected intergovernmental organizations 

More information on IGOs: www.intergovernmentalorganizations.org

FROM CONSORTIUM TO AUTONOMOUS INSTITUTION

As an autonomous institution, EUCLID is the result of the adoption by the Participating States of academic programs developed by the “Pôle d’Extension Universitaire Euclide,” a consortium of universities (led by the University of Bangui and the University of N’Djamena) established in 2005.

EUCLID's primary mission is to train current and future government staff, especially for its Participating Parties. 

Important note: EUCLID (Euclid University - Pôle Universitaire Euclide) should not be confused with the Euclid (University) Consortium (Pôle d'Extension Universitaire Euclide). The Consortium is a group of universities / institutions created in 2005 and which formed the academic foundation for EUCLID. The Consortium (extension of UNDT - Chad, UBRC - Central African Republic, ULI - Belgium) is not a degree-granting institution but it organizes programs on behalf of the universities with possible joint degree issuance by UNDT (the University of N'Djamena) or UBRC (the University of Bangui) and EUCLID.

 More information about the Consortium

Read more about EUCLID's history and timeline

EUCLID'S DEGREE GRANTING AUTHORITY

EUCLID was formally established in 2008 as an international educational framework with international legal personality (see above) and a charter or degree-granting authority by the governments of the Participating Parties (Article 1b):

"EUCLID is chartered to confer diplomas, degrees and completion certificates accredited by the ministries of Education of the Participating Parties."

With the complementary framework of the Euclid Consortium (which is a network of universities), select EUCLID programs may also qualify for joint-degree granting with UBRC (the University of Bangui) or UNDT (the University of N'Djamena), which is a full member of the International Association of Universities.

OFFICES AND ADMINISTRATION

Temporary 2008-2011 per Statutes III, Euclid Consortium offices at ULIPermanent 2011-current
(Francophone with Visiting Campus)
Permanent 2013 onward
(English-speaking with full HQ status) 

The EUCLID Statutes approved by the constitutive intergovernmental agreement approved the location of a transitional secretarial / administrative office in Brussels specifically, to ensure continuity with the legacy of the Euclid Consortium. In additionl, the Brussels executive office is maintained to facilitate liaison with B&S and the European Commission as part of the completion of the EU-funded ( EuropeAid/126931/D/SER/ER) project.

EUCLID's initial headquarters agreement (with hosting at the University of Bangui as Visiting Campus) took effect in March 2011. In 2012, further office space was allocated outside the campus of the University of Bangui, specifically in the Prime Minister's own office complex ("Primature"), on the 6th floor. In 2013, EUCLID signed a global headquarters agreement with the government of The Gambia, West Africa, and has its offices in the Greater Banjul Area.

Read more about EUCLID's liaison office in Washington DC

Read more about EUCLID's Administrative Structure and Officials

LEGAL DOCUMENTS:

Legal Documents page

Depositary Notices

Source ; Euclid University official website