Responsibles: Javier Puech || Ángela Ruiz Gallego

Contact: rrhh@inibica.es

To facilitate the application of the European Charter and the Code of Conduct (C&C)​, the European Commission (EC) launches the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R). This mechanism is a support tool to increase the transparency of working conditions and the attractiveness of research entities that is put into operation on a voluntary basis.

The European Commission offers a seal of excellence to entities that comply with this strategy, following the following steps:

• The entity must carry out an institutional self-assessment comparing its hiring practices with the Code of Conduct.
• The entity must develop its strategy for recruiting researchers with a concrete action plan and must make it public.
• The European Commission reviews the strategy document and, if approved, gives the right to the 'HR Excellence in Research' logo.
• The entity must carry out a self-assessment every 2 years.
• The European Commission makes an external evaluation every 4 years.

INiBICA, through its managing foundation, FCADIZ, has signed the Letter of Adhesion and C&C. This declaration has culminated in a concrete action plan for the implementation of the principles within the framework of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers, which incorporates the Charter and the Code:

Links of interest:

Explanatory video:

Obtaining the "HR Excellence in Research" seal

0. Preliminary phase

The European Commission, through EURAXESS, has launched a computer application to send the documentation to the "EURAXESS Rights Team". Previously, the email RTD-CHARTER@ec.europa.eu was used, which is maintained as a query email. To have access to the application, the user must be configured on the EURAXESS intranet.

1. Initial phase (adherence to the C&C)

The Center Management begins the process by sending a letter of intent to the European Commission, notifying the "EURAXESS Rights Team" to the email: RTD-CHARTER@ec.europa.eu.

2. Implementation phase

The European Commission has created two documents (Template 1 and Template 2) to work on the Gap Analysis and the Action Plan. The organization must identify the "gaps" between its practices for the 40 principles of the C&C and establish an action plan (Action Plan) in a participatory manner.

Within 12 months after having notified the adherence to the C&C and the willingness to implement the HRS4R, a plan must be sent to the EC (RTD-CHARTER@ec.europa.eu) for the first evaluation. Both documents will be published on the institution's website, in a visible place.

3. Initial evaluation

The EC establishes an external advisory panel to review the Gap Analysis and the Action Plan.

Each application is evaluated by three external experts using template A. Subsequently, the responsible evaluator will complete template B, which is sent to the entity.

The three types of evaluation can be:

• Accepted: The organization meets the criteria and obtains the logo, which must be published on the web.
• Accepted pending minor corrections: The organization can publish the logo but has to work on the suggested modifications, ideally within a month.
• Declined pending relevant changes: The project must be reworked and submitted the following year.

4. Interim evaluation

Two years after the seal has been obtained, the interim evaluation takes place, with two fundamental aspects:

• Internal review for the organization of how the strategy has been implemented. You have to fill in Template 3.
• External evaluation by external EC experts based on internal review.

5. Seal renewal phase

Five years after obtaining the seal and three years after the Interim Evaluation, organizations must submit the internal review of the Action Plan with Template 3. This review will be evaluated by a panel of EC reviewers who will later visit the institution. If the assessment is rejected, the organization may resubmit the Action Plan after at least two years, based on a review of the Gap Analysis and the Action Plan. Then it will be reviewed and audited again "in situ". The experts will use Template C to assess the organization.

6. Continuous improvement

Organizations that are well evaluated have to repeat the internal review after three years, with the same format as point 4.