HR Excellence in Research
General information
The ‘HR Strategy for Researchers’ supports research institutions and funding organisations in the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for Recruitment in their policies and practices.
The implementation of the Charter & Code principles by research institutions render them more attractive to researchers looking for a new employer or for a host for their research project.
The European Commission recognises with the 'HR Excellence in Research Award' the institutions which make progress in aligning their human resources policies to the 40 principles of the Charter & Code, based on a customized action plan/HR strategy.
The European Charter for Researchers
The European Charter for Researchers is a set of general principles and requirements which specifies the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers as well as of employers and/or funders of researchers. The aim of the Charter is to ensure that the nature of the relationship between researchers and employers or funders is conducive to successful performance in generating, transferring, sharing and disseminating knowledge and technological development, and to the career development of researchers. The Charter also recognizes the value of all forms of mobility as a means for enhancing the professional development of researchers. In this sense, the Charter constitutes a framework for researchers, employers and funders which invites them to act responsibly and as professionals within their working environment, and to recognise each other as such. The Charter addresses all researchers in the European Union at all stages of their career and covers all fields of research in the public and private sectors, irrespective of the nature of the appointment or employment, the legal status of their employer or the type of organisation or establishment in which the work is carried out. It takes into account the multiple roles of researchers, who are appointed not only to conduct research and/or to carry out development activities but are also involved in supervision, mentoring, management or administrative tasks.
The Code of Conduct for Recruitment
The code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers consists of a set of general principles and requirements that should be followed by employers and/or funders when appointing or recruiting researchers. These principles and requirements should ensure observance of values such as transparency of the recruitment process and equal treatment of all applicants, in particular with regard to the development of an attractive, open and sustainable European labour market for researchers, and are complementary to those outlined in the European Charter for Researchers. Institutions and employers adhering to the Code of Conduct will openly demonstrate their commitment to act in a responsible and respectable way and to provide fair framework conditions to researchers, with a clear intention to contribute to the advancement of the European Research Area.
Implementation of HRS4R at the University of Rzeszów
8 February, 2021 - Rector Prof. Sylwester Czopek, Ph.D. signs the declaration of support for the principles and recommendations of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers and the declaration is sent to the European Commission.
11 February, 2021 - University of Rzeszów receives an official reply of the European Commission. The Commission approves the declaration and encourages the implementation of the principles of the Charter and the Code.
The EU acceptance of the declaration
19 February, 2021 - Rector Prof. Sylwester Czopek, Ph.D. signs an Ordinance on establishment of a Team for the Implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers at the University of Economics in Katowice (Ordinance No. 23/21), whose tasks include preparation of the strategy for implementation of the principles and requirements set out in the Charter and in the Code at the University of Rzeszów, in accordance with the guidelines of the European Commission.
February 22 – March 11, 2021 – meetings of the Implementation Team: preparation of the procedure for implementing the provisions of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, making decision on the methodology, and division of work, preparation of a survey aimed at identifying the gaps between the principles of the Charter and the Code, and the regulations and procedures binding at the University of Rzeszów.
February 24, 2021 – an article informing the academic community about the initiated procedure of the application for the "HR Excellence in Research Award" is published on the University website.
Link to the article in Polish: /uniwersytet/aktualnosci/uniwersytet-rzeszowski-rozpoczal-proces-aplikowania-o-znak-hr-excellence-in-research,30436
March 16-31, 2021 – the survey is conducted in the form of an on-line questionnaire. 34.59% of the UR researchers (of the total population of 1662 academic teachers and technical research staff) respond. The survey is used as the main tool in obtaining information for the gap analysis required.
The Questionnaire (in Polish)
March – May, 2021 - Members of the Implementation Team analyse internal regulations and documents, and conduct numerous consultations with R1-R4 researchers to come up with the best solutions to be included in the HRS4R strategy. They also analyse the results of the survey conducted. On the basis of the analysis of the questionnaire results and of the binding regulations and procedures, as well as of the mentioned above consultations, the working group/Implementation Team prepares the Strategy for the implementation of the HRS4R at the University of Rzeszów.
May 18, 2021 - Rector Prof. Sylwester Czopek, Ph.D. signs an Ordinance on establishment of the Monitoring Team for the Implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers at the University of Economics in Katowice (Ordinance No. 79/21), whose tasks include providing assurance and guarantees of the completion of the implementation of the Strategy.
May 27, 2021 - the Senate of the University of Rzeszów adopts the Strategy for the implementation of the HRS4R at the University of Rzeszów.
The Resolution and the Strategy (in Polish)
July 14, 2021 – the first meeting of the Monitoring Team.
July-October, 2021 – Gap Analysis, Action Plan, OTMR checklist are prepared to be submitted to the European Commission.
September 30, 2021 - the Senate of the University of Rzeszów adopts an updated version of the Strategy for the implementation of the HRS4R at the University of Rzeszów.
The Resolution and the updated Strategy (in Polish).
October 27, 2021 – The second meeting of the Monitoring Team
October 28, 2021 - an article informing the academic community about the implementation procedure of the application for the "HR Excellence in Research Award" is published in Gazeta Uniwersytecka.
Link to the article in Polish: /uniwersytet/gazeta-uniwersytecka/2021/wrzesien---pazdziernik
November 8, 2021 – the prepared in October OTMR Policy of the University of Rzeszów is put into practice with the Ordinance No. ZR/212/2021 of the Rector of the University of Rzeszów, having being recommended by the Senate Committee on Science.
The Ordinance and the OTMR Policy
18 November 2021 - Submission of the Gap Analysis, OTM-R checklist and Action Plan documents for evaluation by the EURAXESS Assessors
10 March 2022 - Receipt of the Gap Analysis, OTM-R checklist and Action Plan assessment report prepared by the EURAXESS Assessors (status Pending minor modifications)
10 March - 22 April 2022 - Preparation of Gap Analysis, OTM-R checklist and Action Plan modifications according to the recommendations of the EURAXESS Assessors
Updated documents:
Process Description, Gap Analysis updated, OTMR checklist updated, Action Plan updated
28 April 2022 - Acceptance of the updated HRS4R UR Strategy by the UR Senate
11 May 2022 - HR Excellence in Research is awarded to UR.
Obtaining this award was possible thanks to the involvement of the academic community of our University in the tedious process of verifying the implemented solutions related to the principles of the European Charter for Researchers.
This distinction is awarded to institutions that contribute to making the working conditions of researchers in the European Union more attractive and provide employees with a transparent recruitment process, stability of employment and career development opportunities.
The "HR Excellence in Research" distinction was awarded for 2 years, after which the activities and standards related to working conditions and recruitment will be re-evaluated.
In the official notice one can read that “From now on, you can use the 'HR Excellence in Research' award to promote the stimulating and favorable work environment for researchers in your institution.”
March-July 2023 - the second survey was conducted in the form of an on-line questionnaire. 35.50% of the UR researchers (of the total population of 1620 academic teachers and technical research staff and Ph.D. students) responded.
The Questionnaire (in Polish)
25 January 2024 - Acceptance of the HRS4R UR Strategy for the years 2024-2026 by the UR Senate