ATU |Council for Professional Accreditation and Certification

1. Document Control

Document Title: ATU-CPAC Delegation of Authority Policy
Document Owner: ATU-CPAC Governing Council
Issuing Authority: Arab Trainers Union
Policy Authority: ATU-CPAC Governing Council
Approval Authority: Arab Trainers Union Board of Directors
Effective Date: 1 June 2026
Review Date: Every three years, or earlier where required
Applicability: ATU-CPAC, Arab Trainers Union officers, Governing Council members, committees, providers, partners, reviewers, assessors, IQAs, EQAs, registry officers, and all persons acting under delegated ATU-CPAC authority

2. Introduction

The Arab Trainers Union Council for Professional Accreditation and Certification, referred to as ATU-CPAC, is a specialized council operating within the Arab Trainers Union.

ATU-CPAC regulates, monitors, quality assures, and verifies provider accreditation, professional certification, assessment, registry, and compliance activities under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

Delegation of authority is required to ensure that decisions are made by the appropriate person, committee, or body, within approved limits, with clear accountability and proper documentation.

All certificates, professional certifications, accreditation certificates, assessed certificates, registry confirmations, and verification records governed by ATU-CPAC are issued in the name and under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

3. Purpose

This policy sets out how authority is delegated, exercised, recorded, reviewed, limited, suspended, or withdrawn within the ATU-CPAC framework.

The policy aims to:

1. Clarify decision-making authority.
2. Protect the legal and institutional authority of the Arab Trainers Union.
3. Ensure ATU-CPAC decisions are properly approved and documented.
4. Prevent unauthorized commitments, approvals, certificates, agreements, or public claims.
5. Support accountability, transparency, efficiency, and internal control.
6. Ensure major legal, financial, strategic, reputational, or partnership matters are escalated to the correct authority.
7. Protect the credibility of ATU-issued credentials.

4. Scope

This policy applies to delegated authority related to:

1. Governance decisions.
2. Standards and policy approval.
3. Provider accreditation decisions.
4. Professional certification decisions.
5. Assessment decisions.
6. IQA and EQA decisions.
7. Registry and verification decisions.
8. Certificate control and release.
9. Complaints and appeals.
10. Suspension, withdrawal, and revocation.
11. Partner recognition and external relations.
12. Financial oversight and fee implementation.
13. Communications, branding, and public claims.
14. Confidentiality, data protection, and intellectual property matters.
15. Emergency and urgent protective action.

5. Delegation Principles

ATU-CPAC delegation of authority shall be guided by the following principles.

5.1 Institutional Authority

All delegated authority remains subject to the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

5.2 Accountability

Every delegated decision must have a responsible person, committee, evidence record, approval route, and audit trail.

5.3 Legality

Delegated authority must comply with ATU bylaws, ATU Board decisions, approved policies, applicable laws, partner agreements, and internal controls.

5.4 No Independent Legal Authority

ATU-CPAC committees and officers may recommend, review, monitor, and implement decisions, but they may not independently bind the Arab Trainers Union unless expressly authorized.

5.5 Proportionality

Authority shall be delegated according to risk, impact, role, competence, and operational need.

5.6 Segregation of Duties

Where possible, preparation, review, approval, certificate release, registry update, and payment handling should be separated to reduce risk.

5.7 Documentation

All delegated decisions must be recorded, retained, and available for quality assurance, audit, appeal, or Board review.

5.8 Escalation

Matters with legal, financial, strategic, reputational, ethical, or certificate-integrity risk must be escalated to the competent authority.

6. Authority Reserved to the Arab Trainers Union Board of Directors

The following matters are reserved to the Arab Trainers Union Board of Directors or require Board approval or ratification where applicable:

1. Establishment, restructuring, merger, or dissolution of ATU-CPAC.
2. Approval of major governance policies.
3. Approval or ratification of major ATU-CPAC standards.
4. Appointment of ATU-CPAC Governing Council members.
5. Approval of the annual ATU-CPAC budget.
6. Approval of major strategic partnerships or recognition agreements.
7. Approval of major changes to certificate authority, issuing rules, name, logo, seal, or legal status.
8. Approval of matters with significant legal, financial, strategic, reputational, or regional impact.
9. Appointment of final appeals panels where required.
10. Any matter reserved by ATU bylaws, Board decision, or applicable procedures.

7. Authority of the ATU President

The ATU President holds institutional authority to represent and sign on behalf of the Arab Trainers Union according to ATU bylaws and approved procedures.

The ATU President may:

1. Sign agreements on behalf of the Arab Trainers Union.
2. Sign official certificates, accreditation certificates, recognition documents, or appointment letters where authorized.
3. Issue official appointment letters for ATU-CPAC Governing Council members and key committees where applicable.
4. Approve urgent protective action where ATU reputation, certificate integrity, legal compliance, or public trust is at risk.
5. Escalate matters to the ATU Board of Directors.
6. Approve official public statements where required.
7. Exercise authority delegated by the ATU Board.

No agreement creating legal or institutional obligations may be signed on behalf of ATU-CPAC independently unless signed or authorized through the Arab Trainers Union.

8. Authority of the Secretary General

The Secretary General supports implementation, coordination, administration, and delegated oversight of ATU-CPAC operations.

The Secretary General may:

1. Coordinate implementation of ATU Board and ATU-CPAC decisions.
2. Support nominations, appointments, and committee coordination.
3. Countersign or sign documents where delegated.
4. Review operational compliance.
5. Coordinate official correspondence.
6. Support financial, administrative, and registry controls.
7. Escalate risks to the ATU President or ATU Board.
8. Act under delegated authority approved by ATU procedures.

9. Authority of the ATU-CPAC Governing Council

The ATU-CPAC Governing Council provides strategic and operational oversight within the authority delegated by the Arab Trainers Union.

The Governing Council may:

1. Approve operational plans.
2. Recommend policies and standards for ATU approval where required.
3. Approve procedures, forms, and quality assurance tools within delegated authority.
4. Establish committees and approve terms of reference.
5. Monitor provider accreditation, certification, assessment, registry, quality assurance, risk, and compliance activities.
6. Review major quality assurance reports.
7. Recommend suspension, withdrawal, revocation, or escalation for major cases.
8. Review risk and performance reports.
9. Recommend strategic partnerships or recognition arrangements.
10. Report to ATU leadership.

The Governing Council may not sign agreements or issue certificates independently from ATU authority.

10. Committee Delegated Authority

ATU-CPAC committees may be delegated authority to review, recommend, monitor, or decide matters within their approved terms of reference.

10.1 Provider Accreditation Committee

May review provider applications, site visit reports, renewal evidence, corrective actions, scope expansion requests, and recommend accreditation decisions.

10.2 Certification and Assessment Committee

May review certification schemes, assessment instruments, assessment results, certification evidence, assessor requirements, and recommend certification decisions.

10.3 Quality Assurance and Compliance Committee

May review IQA, EQA, monitoring reports, nonconformities, corrective actions, provider risk levels, and compliance concerns.

10.4 Ethics, Impartiality, and Professional Conduct Committee

May review conflicts of interest, ethics concerns, misconduct, public claims misuse, malpractice, and professional conduct matters.

10.5 Appeals and Complaints Committee

May review complaints and first-stage appeals according to the approved Complaints and Appeals Policy.

10.6 Digital Verification and Registry Committee

May review registry entries, verification controls, certificate numbering, digital badge records, registry corrections, and status updates.

10.7 Partner Recognition and Compliance Committee

May review partner due diligence, recognition proposals, partner compliance, joint branding, public claims, and partner reporting.

Committees shall act only within approved scope and must escalate reserved matters to the Governing Council, ATU President, Secretary General, or ATU Board as required.

11. Operational Delegation

Operational tasks may be delegated to authorized officers, staff, reviewers, assessors, IQAs, EQAs, registry officers, or technical experts.

Delegated operational tasks may include:

1. Application screening.
2. Document review.
3. Evidence collection.
4. Site visit preparation.
5. Assessment administration.
6. Assessment marking where authorized.
7. IQA sampling.
8. EQA review.
9. Registry data entry.
10. Certificate data checking.
11. Drafting reports.
12. Preparing committee papers.
13. Following up corrective actions.
14. Preparing decision letters.
15. Maintaining records.

Operational delegation does not include authority to bind ATU legally, issue certificates independently, approve unbudgeted commitments, or make reserved strategic decisions.

12. Financial Delegation

ATU-CPAC financial activity shall operate within the financial structure and controls of the Arab Trainers Union.

Financial decisions shall be subject to:

1. ATU bylaws.
2. ATU Board decisions.
3. Approved budget.
4. Approved accounting code.
5. Financial procedures.
6. Procurement requirements.
7. Internal controls.
8. Segregation of duties.
9. Audit requirements.

No fixed financial limits are established in this policy. Financial authority shall be exercised only within the approved ATU budget, delegated authority, accounting controls, and approved procedures.

Any financial matter outside approved budget, involving significant risk, or creating legal obligation shall be escalated to the ATU President, Secretary General, or ATU Board as appropriate.

13. Agreement and Contract Authority

All agreements, contracts, memoranda of understanding, recognition agreements, partnership agreements, endorsement arrangements, and external relations documents that create obligations shall be signed in the name and under the authority of the Arab Trainers Union.

Agreement authority shall follow these rules:

1. Agreements are signed by the ATU President according to ATU bylaws.
2. The Secretary General may coordinate, review, countersign, or act where delegated.
3. ATU-CPAC committees may recommend agreements but may not bind ATU independently.
4. Legal, financial, branding, data sharing, certificate, recognition, or partner obligations must be reviewed before signature.
5. Public announcement of an agreement must not occur before formal approval and signature.
6. Agreement records shall be retained in the official ATU or ATU-CPAC records system.

14. Certificate and Registry Authority

Certificate and registry authority must be controlled to protect ATU-issued credentials.

14.1 Certificate Authority

Only authorized ATU signatories may approve or sign official certificates, accreditation certificates, professional certifications, assessed certificates, certificates of achievement, or official recognition letters.

14.2 Certificate Release

Certificate release may occur only after:

1. Eligibility is confirmed.
2. Assessment or accreditation decision is approved.
3. IQA and EQA requirements are completed where required.
4. Certificate data is checked.
5. Certificate number is assigned.
6. Registry entry is created or prepared.
7. Authorized signatory approval is confirmed.

14.3 Registry Authority

Registry officers may create or update records only according to approved decisions and documented evidence.

Registry status changes involving suspension, withdrawal, revocation, or reinstatement must be approved by the competent authority.

15. Urgent and Emergency Authority

Urgent action may be taken where there is immediate risk to:

1. Certificate integrity.
2. Assessment security.
3. Public trust.
4. Learners or candidates.
5. Data protection.
6. ATU or ATU-CPAC reputation.
7. Partner compliance.
8. Legal or regulatory compliance.
9. Registry accuracy.

Urgent action may include:

1. Temporary certificate hold.
2. Temporary registry status change.
3. Suspension pending review.
4. Restriction on public claims.
5. Temporary stop to assessment activity.
6. Preservation of evidence.
7. Referral to investigation.
8. Immediate escalation to ATU leadership.

Urgent decisions shall be documented, justified, communicated, and reviewed by the competent authority as soon as practical.

16. Delegation Limits

Delegated authority is limited by:

1. ATU bylaws.
2. ATU Board decisions.
3. Approved policies and standards.
4. Approved budget and financial procedures.
5. Committee terms of reference.
6. Approved role descriptions.
7. Conflict-of-interest requirements.
8. Legal and data protection requirements.
9. Partner agreements.
10. Certificate and registry controls.
11. Public claims and branding rules.

No delegated person or committee may:

1. Act outside approved authority.
2. Sign agreements without authorization.
3. Issue or alter certificates independently.
4. Approve activities outside scope.
5. Override ATU Board decisions.
6. Ignore conflicts of interest.
7. Commit ATU to unapproved financial obligations.
8. Make misleading public statements.
9. Use ATU or ATU-CPAC marks without authorization.
10. Suppress or alter official records.

17. Conflict of Interest in Delegated Decisions

All delegated decision-makers must declare actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest.

A person shall not exercise delegated authority where they:

1. Have a financial interest.
2. Have a personal or family relationship.
3. Are employed by or contracted with the provider or candidate under review.
4. Provided training, assessment, consultancy, or preparation for the matter.
5. Have a dispute or competition interest.
6. May reasonably be seen as biased.

Where a conflict exists, authority shall be transferred to another competent person, committee, or panel.

18. Delegation Records

ATU-CPAC shall maintain records of delegated authority.

Records may include:

1. Delegation of Authority Matrix.
2. Committee terms of reference.
3. Appointment letters.
4. Role descriptions.
5. Signatory records.
6. Decision records.
7. Approval records.
8. Committee minutes.
9. Conflict-of-interest declarations.
10. Financial approval records.
11. Certificate release records.
12. Registry update records.
13. Urgent action records.
14. Escalation records.

Records shall be retained according to ATU policy, ATU-CPAC requirements, applicable laws, and partner requirements where applicable.

19. Monitoring and Audit

ATU-CPAC shall monitor and audit delegated authority to ensure proper control.

Monitoring may include review of:

1. Decisions made under delegation.
2. Certificate approvals.
3. Registry updates.
4. Financial approvals.
5. Committee decisions.
6. Conflict-of-interest declarations.
7. Agreement approvals.
8. Public statements.
9. Urgent actions.
10. Suspension, withdrawal, and revocation decisions.
11. Appeals and complaints decisions.

Misuse of delegated authority may result in correction, withdrawal of authority, suspension, investigation, or escalation to ATU leadership.

20. Delegation Matrix

The following matrix provides a general authority framework. Detailed authority may be defined in separate procedures, committee terms of reference, or ATU Board decisions.

21. Withdrawal or Amendment of Delegated Authority

Delegated authority may be amended, restricted, suspended, or withdrawn where:

1. Role changes.
2. Appointment ends.
3. Committee mandate ends.
4. Misuse of authority occurs.
5. Conflict of interest is identified.
6. Competence or performance concern exists.
7. ATU Board decision requires change.
8. Legal or financial risk arises.
9. Partner requirement changes.
10. Operational restructuring occurs.

Changes to delegation shall be documented and communicated to affected persons.

22. Responsibilities of ATU-CPAC

ATU-CPAC shall:

1. Maintain this policy and the Delegation of Authority Matrix.
2. Ensure delegated decisions are properly recorded.
3. Train relevant persons on their authority and limits.
4. Monitor compliance with delegation rules.
5. Escalate reserved matters.
6. Maintain conflict-of-interest controls.
7. Protect certificate, registry, and agreement authority.
8. Review delegation effectiveness.
9. Report misuse or serious risk to ATU leadership.

23. Responsibilities of Delegated Persons and Committees

Delegated persons and committees shall:

1. Act only within approved authority.
2. Follow ATU-CPAC policies and procedures.
3. Make evidence-based decisions.
4. Keep accurate records.
5. Declare conflicts of interest.
6. Maintain confidentiality.
7. Escalate matters outside their authority.
8. Avoid unauthorized commitments.
9. Protect ATU and ATU-CPAC reputation.
10. Cooperate with audit, review, and investigation.

24. Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

1. Warning or guidance.
2. Correction of decision.
3. Withdrawal of delegated authority.
4. Suspension from committee or role.
5. Investigation.
6. Registry or certificate correction.
7. Referral to ATU leadership.
8. Disciplinary or contractual action where applicable.
9. Legal action where required.

Actions shall be proportionate to the seriousness, intent, recurrence, and risk.

25. Review of Policy

This policy shall be reviewed every three years or earlier where required due to:

1. ATU Board decision.
2. Legal or regulatory change.
3. Governance restructuring.
4. Financial control change.
5. Partner requirement.
6. Audit finding.
7. Misuse of authority.
8. Certificate or registry incident.
9. Complaint or appeal trend.
10. Operational need.

26. Definitions

Final Policy Statement

ATU-CPAC Delegation of Authority Policy exists to ensure that all decisions, approvals, certificates, registry actions, financial matters, agreements, and public commitments are made by the proper authority under the Arab Trainers Union framework.

Through clear delegation, reserved authorities, authorized signatories, documented approvals, escalation controls, conflict-of-interest management, and audit trails, ATU-CPAC protects accountability, transparency, institutional authority, and the credibility of ATU-issued credentials.