During the coming months, we will be working towards an EU certification of our operations called “The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers” (HRS4R). What does this mean and why are we doing it?

In 2005, the EU established a “Charter and Code” (C&C) consisting of 40 principles applying to research institutions and researchers. The C&C ensures an open, transparent and merit-based recruitment of researchers, safeguards good working conditions and focuses on the professional development of researchers at all stages of their careers. It also highlights the importance of recognizing and valuing research mobility, both physically and between disciplines and sectors.

For researchers, an HRS4R-certified organisation will publicly recognise your rights as a professional, value your mobility experience, respect your work-life balance, guarantee recruitment transparency, and value your career progression. For us as a university, we will join a network of organisations that are already certified (nearly 660 worldwide and 14 in Sweden), and benefit from increased international visibility. The implementation of the C&C will render us more attractive to researchers looking for a new employer or as a host for their research project. That the certification may help us leverage more EU research funding is of course an extra bonus.

Using specific focus groups of researchers to identify how well we comply with these 40 principles followed by a university-wide questionnaire, we will identify areas that we need to improve. The 40 principles cover Ethical and Professional aspects, Recruitment and Selection, Working Conditions and Social Security, and Training and Development.

Work with HRS4R does not stop when we receive our certification. We will be continually assessed at regular intervals, which is guaranteed to keep us on our toes.

I wholeheartedly support our upcoming HRS4R work and encourage you to become involved. It is a way to make a positive difference.