HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGY FOR RESEARCHERS

 

 

The European Research Area (ERA), which was launched in 2000 in the context of the Lisbon Strategy, is a single, borderless market for research and innovation that fosters the free movement of researchers, scientific knowledge and innovation, and promotes a more competitive European industry.

In this context, the European Commission adopted in 2005 the ‘European Charter for Researchers’ and the ‘Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers’ (Charter & Code). Both documents provide guidelines for the definition of the talent policies of entities promoting and implementing research in the European Union. The strategic aim is enabling them to foster the creation of attractive and secure working environments for the development of a career in research.

The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is the initiative with which the European Commission, through Euraxess, promotes the adoption of the principles of the Charter & Code and recognises –by awarding the Human Researchers Excellence in Research award– those entities that commit to its implementation by adopting an action plan.

In order to qualify for this accreditation –based on a continuous improvement approach– the applicant organisations must carry out a participatory and transparent process of strategic reflection, which is embodied in the following documents:

  • Declaration of commitment to implement the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers initiative in the institution.
  • GAP analysis on the degree of alignment with the guidelines of the Charter and the Code.
  • Specific diagnosis on recrutiment policies based on compliance with OTM-R (Open, Transparent and Merit Based Recruitment) principles.
  • Human resources action plan, including the strategy as well as the plan implementation and monitoring processes.

After undergoing the external evaluation by Euraxess, the organisation can obtain award, which will be subject to an interim evaluation after two years and an evaluation for the renewal of the award after another three years.

 

Links and documents:

Website Human Resources Excellence in Research on Euraxess

‘European Charter for Researchers’ and the ‘Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers’ (Charter & Code)