Launched in October, 2007, GULL has a Government mandate to award professional certificates, diplomas and degrees, but it does not emulate the traditional academic university model. GULL has two senior executive officers (Chairman, President) and is supported by regional Vice Presidents and a panel of honorary officers (Co Chancellors, Pro Chancellors, Elders) GULL has no council or faculty, lectureships or professoriate nor does it have a campus and its two central companies (GULL Inc. in the USA (the university) and GULL Ltd. (global support from the UK)) operate on a cost recovery basis. GULL exists to serve others and if the contributions received exceed the central operating costs, the surplus is used to fund GULL’s work among the poorest.

At the outset, we took a decision to design and operate GULL’s central services and support as cost effectively as we could. The key functions are: (1) sustaining GULL’s mission and its implementation; (2) securing and continually developing GULL’s mandate (via its statement of recognition and multiple endorsements); (3) locating and supporting affiliates to represent GULL; (4) maintaining central websites (to explain GULL’s mission, mandate, operations and quality assurance); (5) overseeing quality assurance and (6) the issuing of all certificates (when the respective pathway requirements are met). We have no plans to use or develop a centralized database of learner records. Instead, records are maintained by representatives and the collection and reconciliation of data is cross-checked via GULL’s quality assurance system. We think that localized record-keeping is more appropriate and helpful to our learners. We are also mindful of the costs and complexity of operating a centralized database and that this approach is more likely to increase administrative demands in the endless quest for completeness. We do not want central support requirements to assume more importance than our learners.

GULL aims to build and sustain a large population of learners around the world. We are especially committed to providing opportunities for the poorest and the low paid and for those without the necessary qualifications and financial resources to develop themselves via conventional forms of education and training. For funding and outreach, we use two approaches:

(1) Application for public funds led by sponsors (e.g. Governments, NGOs and other Agencies). GULL Limited can, if required, play a role in the stewardship of funds received. We can do this by linking the release of funds to incremental quality assurance reporting by the local GULL facilitating and support team.
(2) Locating and supporting GULL affiliates and supporters who are willing and able to promote GULL in their region and/or locality.

As funding from sources (1) and (2) permit, we shall offer the GULL system for use at low cost (or no cost) to established international agencies who are already working with the poorest. In essence then, those who can pay affordable fees (at (2)) help to ensure that the poorest can participate.