European Charter & Code 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. It 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.
Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R)
The ‘HR Strategy for Researchers’ supports research institutions and funding organizations in the implementation of the Charter & Code 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 recognizes 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. 579 organisations have received the HR Excellence in Research award.
This mechanism is articulated in five main steps, which are:
an internal analysis is performed by the research institution to compare institutional practices with the C&C principles, which should involve all key players;
the main results of this analysis (planned actions, when, by whom) are made public through a "Human Resources Strategy for Researchers incorporating the Charter & Code";
such HRS4R is acknowledged by the European Commission;
the HRS4R is implemented by the institution that through its internal quality assurance mechanism carries out every year a self-assessment;
an external evaluation is carried out periodically.
