Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R)
Halmstad University received the award HR Excellence in Research by the European Commission in June 2020, as number seven of almost 30 Swedish higher education institutes. The award indicates that Halmstad University is an employer with a stimulating and friendly working environment. The award also indicates that the University commits itself to fair, transparent and merit-based recruitment and assessment procedures in employment, and to support career development, of researchers.
The University has entered the implementation phase and is now preparing for an interim assessment that will be sent to the European Commission in the middle of July 2022.
Background – the world’s most competitive economy
In 2005, the European Commission issued a recommendation on the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. The aim of the Charter & Code for researchers is to contribute to European prosperity by creating the world's most competitive knowledge-based economy through European research activities.
This will be achieved by making research careers in Europe more attractive, create an attractive, open and sustainable European labour market for researchers, encourage increased mobility, increase female researchers' participation and encourage more young people to choose a research career. By improving the conditions for free research, promoting an open labour market for researchers and enabling recruitment and retaining outstanding researchers, a strong European Research Area can be established and with it an attractive, sustainable and attractive labour market for researchers.
The aim of the Charter & Code is also to ensure that the relationship between researchers and employers contributes to successful research achievements, as well as access and exchange of knowledge, technical development and career development.
Content of the Charter & Code
The Charter & Code is aimed at researchers at all different stages of their careers – from doctoral students to professors – and covers all research areas in the public and private sectors. The Charter & Code consists of 40 principles that determine roles, responsibilities and rights of researchers and employers. The basic concept is that the principles should serve as a framework for researchers and employers to work within.
Employers embracing the Charter & Code thereby demonstrate their commitment to act responsibly and professionally towards their employees. Employers undertake to promote equal treatment and transparency in recruitment processes, have fair conditions for researchers and clearly contribute to the development of the European Research Area.
HR Excellence in Research – an award to employers
To help employers implement the Charter & Code in their own policies, the European Commission has developed a tool to support the process. The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers tool (HRS4R) contains fixed templates and mandatory implementation steps. The HR Excellence in Research award is awarded to the applicant organisation (employer) after a thorough internal analysis of the institution’s personnel policy and conditions through legislation, agreements and other guidelines, as well as an external assessment. Employers who receive the award are expected to have, maintain and develop a stimulating and beneficial working environment for researchers.
The HRS4R process at Halmstad University
The HRS4R process is described in the figure below.
The HRS4R process at Halmstad University started during the autumn of 2017 by submitting a letter of endorsement and commitment to the European Commission. Thereafter work was done on conducting a gap analysis. Herein, personnel policy and other regulations at the University was compared with the 40 Charter & Code principles, that are divided in four areas (Ethical principles and professional responsibility, Recruitment, Working conditions and Training).
Based on the results of the gap analysis, an action plan has been developed with measures to ensure that the research environment and working conditions as expressed in the Charter & Code are guaranteed. Throughout the process representatives from all levels of the research community at the University have been consulted.
The application for the ”HR Excellence in Research” award was submitted to the European Commission on October 30, 2019, by Halmstad University. In June 2020 the European Commission sent a message saying that the application was approved, giving Halmstad University the right to use the HR Excellence in Research award. The implementation of the Action plan emanated in the HRS4R process will become part of the normal ongoing development and quality processes at Halmstad University. The University's quality culture is characterised by participation, dialogue and continuous improvement. As a next step in the HRS4R process, a self-evaluation will be done after two years, and to be submitted to the European Commission in July 2022.
More information
Read more about HRS4R at EURAXESS
External link.
Halmstad University HRS4R Gap Analysis
Pdf, 1020.7 kB, opens in new window.
Halmstad University HRS4R Action Plan Pdf, 414.5 kB, opens in new window.
