9. Functions and powers of the Council (1) The Council shall be governing body of the University and shall be responsible for the management administration of the University , its property and revenues, and shall exercise general control and supervision over all the affairs of the University . (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the functions and powers of the Council shall include— (a) to govern, maintain, administer, dispose of and, save as hereinafter provided, to invest all the property, money, assets, and rights of the University ; (b) to manage the business and all other affairs of the University , and to enter into engagements and to accept obligations and liabilities without any restriction whatsoever: Provided that, before determining any question relating to the matters contained in paragraphs (a) and (b) which affects the academic policy of the University , the Council shall refer the matter to the Senate if it has not previously been considered by the Senate , and shall take into consideration any recommendation or report thereon by the Senate ; (c) to determine, demand and receive fees, subscriptions, deposits, fines and other payments, and to effect payment of any monetary obligations; (d) to take such steps as it determines fit for the purpose of procuring and receiving contributions to the funds of the University to further the objects of the University , and, for this purpose, to raise money in such a manner as it determines fit; (e) to borrow money on behalf of the University and for that purpose, if it considers appropriate, to mortgage or charge all or any part of the real property of the University , unless the conditions of any will, deed or gift or other similar instrument are thereby contravened, and to give such other security, whether upon real or personal property or otherwise, as it considers fit; (f) to invest any moneys of the University , including any unapplied income, in such stocks, debentures, funds, shares, or other securities as the Council may, from time to time, determine, whether within or outside Malawi, or in the purchase of real or personal property, with the like power of varying such investments from time to time by sale or re-investment or otherwise; (g) to sell, buy, exchange, lease, rent, grant or take on lease or rent, real or personal property or portions thereof on behalf of the University , and to acquire any easement over any property held by other persons or to consent to any easement whether public or private over any property of the University ; (h) to undertake and execute any trust, the undertaking whereof the Council may find desirable for the attainment or fulfillment of any of the objects of the University ; (i) to hold, invest, manage or distribute, in furtherance of and in accordance with any trust direction, discretion, obligation or permission, any property income, held by it as trustee, subject to such trust; (j) to enter into, vary, carry out or cancel contracts on behalf of the University ; (k) to compound or compromise any action, suit or proceedings, or any debt or claim, and to refer any matter to arbitration; (l) to operate bank accounts, and to cause proper books of accounts to be kept and audited for all sums of money received and expended by the University and for the assets and liabilities of the University so that the books give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the University , and explain its transactions; (m) after consultation with the Senate , to establish, institute or discontinue Faculties, Centres, Institutes or such other academic departments or sections of the University , in accordance with this Act or the Statutes ; (n) after consultation with the Senate , to determine terms of service and general conditions relating to the employment of academic staff , and to establish, disestablish or otherwise make or discontinue financial provisions for appointments to such posts; (o) after consideration of any recommendation or report thereon from the Vice-Chancellor , to determine the terms of service and general conditions relating to the employment of administrative, clerical, technical and support staff, and to establish, disestablish, or otherwise make or discontinue financial provisions for appointments to such posts; (p) to determine the salary scales and general rates of payment for all categories of staff appointed by the University and for other persons commissioned to give services to the University , and to appoint and employ such persons, pay their salaries, wages or fees, and, subject to the provisions of the Statutes , terminate their appointments; (q) to make provisions, as it may find fit, for schemes of insurance, superannuation, pensions or retirement benefits for employees of the University , their spouses and dependents, to subscribe to benevolent and such other funds for the benefit of the employees, and to make such payments to the employees as it thinks fit; (r) to take such steps as it determines appropriate for furthering the objects and interests of the University by making provision for teaching and research, printing and publication of research and other works which may be issued by the University , and for the welfare of the staff and students of the University ; (s) to call for reports from the Vice-Chancellor or the Senate , and to review the work of the University in the light of the reports; (t) to make provision for payments to external examiners and other persons to whom it finds fit to make payments to further the objects of the University , and for scholarships, prizes, grants and other payments to students of the University ; (u) after consideration of any recommendation or report from the Vice-Chancellor and Senate , to determine fees to be charged to students; (v) to determine to whom the award of Honorary Degrees of the University shall be made in accordance with the procedure prescribed therefor by the Statutes ; (w) to decide, after consultation with the Vice-Chancellor , whether or not any donation, gift, grant, devise, bequest or other bounty to the University should be accepted; (x) to enter into agreements and other relationships with institutions or bodies, whether academic or otherwise, for such purposes as the Council may determine, including the embodiment within the University of any other institution or body and the taking-over and assumption of the property, rights, privileges and liabilities of such other institution or body; (y) to select persons for entry as students of the University on the recommendation of a selection committee established by the Statutes ; and (z) to establish such sub-committees as it may deem necessary. (3) The Council shall consider any recommendation made by the Senate for the amendment or alteration of Statutes relating to the academic administration of the University and for taking any other action in respect of academic matters, and shall either accept, refer back or reject any such recommendation. (4) The Council shall exercise fairness and where necessary employ affirmative action in order to ensure that nobody is discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnic origin, political affiliation or opinion, religion, sex, gender, physical disability, HIV and AIDS status, or other status, in respect of— (a) the appointment of any person to the academic or other categories of staff of the University ; (b) the registration of any person as a student of the University ; or (c) the right of any person to hold any advantage or privilege of the University . (5) The Council shall ensure that the fairness it exercises shall also be practiced by the Senate , any statutory committee, or officer of the University . (6) The Chairperson shall keep the Chancellor informed on matters concerning the general policy and conduct of the University .