Newsletter 3 HRS4R-UMU

Newsletter HRS4R-UMU nº3 

UMU Human Resources Strategy for Researchers

European Quality Label 'Human Resources Excellence in Research' (HRS4R) award and start of the Implementation Phase

Last June 2nd 2020, the European Commission awarded the University of Murcia the European Quality Seal 'Human Resources Excellence in Research' (HRS4R), starting a period of 24 months in which the University of Murcia, through the Management Committee, under the supervision and direction of the Steering Committee, will implement the principles of the "European Charter for Researchers" and the "Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers" described in the Action Plan, actions to improve the human resources policy of the institution.

The "European Charter for Researchers" is a set of general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and rights of researchers as well as employers and/or funding bodies of researchers. It provides a framework for researchers, employers and funding bodies inviting them to act responsibly and as professionals within their working environment, and to recognise each other as such.

The "Code of Conduct for the Selection and Recruitment of Researchers" consists of a series of general principles and requirements that employers and/or sponsors should follow when selecting and recruiting their researchers. These principles and requirements are complementary to those described in the European Charter for Researchers. Institutions adhering to the Code of Conduct will openly demonstrate their commitment to act in a responsible and respectful manner and to provide fair working conditions for researchers, with the clear intention of contributing to the development of the European Research Area.

Once the first phase of the implementation of the Strategy has been completed, through the ratification of these principles, the internal analysis and the elaboration of the Action Plan; in this second phase the improvement actions presented should be implemented.

A mid-term evaluation will be carried out by the European Commission by June 2022. Once this evaluation has been passed, a period of 36 months will begin in which, after a review of the Action Plan, the University of Murcia will have to implement these actions again in order to receive the renewal of the HR Seal of Excellence from 2025.

During this second phase of the implementation of the actions, a new survey will be carried out for the research community of the UMU. The survey will focus on issues related to the 40 principles of the Charter and Code, which in turn are divided into 4 thematic blocks: "Ethical and Professional Aspects", "Recruitment and Selection", "Working Conditions and Social Security", "Training and Development" and will be launched in mid 2021.

HRS4R Implementation Phase Description (source: Euraxess)

Implementation Phase: Management Committee work meetings and improvements undertaken

Two follow-up meetings have been held by the committees in charge of implementing the HRS4R label, in September and November 2020.

Actions implemented or in progress at December 2020:

• Action 1a. Improve some sections of the UMU website: the Research and Teaching website (https://www.um.es/web/pdi/normativa) including national, sectoral or institutional regulations. Implemented.
   
• Action 1b. English version of the e-recruitment tool "Convocum". Implemented.
   
• Action 3. Publication of a quarterly Newsletter "HRS4RUMU", where the relevant aspects related to the way in which the UMU complies with and advances in the principles of the charter and code of conduct will be transferred to the research community. Implemented.
   
• Action 6. Creation of a general merit model rule. In progress.
   
• Action 7. Publication of positions linked to international research projects in Euraxess. Implemented.
   
• Action 8. Involvement of the Gender Unit in the evaluation and selection commissions for recruitment of researchers. In progress.
   
• Action 9. Broaden the assumptions allowing for the consideration of interruptions in the research career without sanction, including especially stays in other sectors (industry/other academic sectors) and training, to adapt them to the current needs of the UMU. In progress.
   
• Action 10. Inclusion of the recognition of mobility in the standard scale model. In progress.
   
• Action 11. Improvement of the document on "recommendations/good practices in the performance of the selection boards for official staff. In progress.

Actions planned to be implemented in the forthcoming months:

• Action 2. Translation into English of the internal UMU policies and documents linked to the HRS4R activities and the relevant sections of UMU website. Planned for 31/05/2021.
   
• Action 5. Development of a new feedback evaluation report for the human resources selection processes at UMU. Planned for 28/02/2021.
   
• Action 12. Preparation of a welcome pack in Spanish and English for researchers, indicating the institutional norms, their references and links and information about training possibilities and norms related to IPR issues. This information could be presented (in the form of a brochure or in digital format) to the researchers when they sign their contracts with the UMU. Planned for 28/02/2021.

Participation of Working Group members in HRS4R activities

Webinar "OTM-R Checklist: How do you develop an OTM-R policy for HRS4R", Mr. Rovira Pato (CERCA - Catalonia) organized by the Euraxess network. 30th October 2020.

Webinar ''The Interim Assessment: How to prepare the internal review and update the action plan?'', Dr Milan Zdravković (University of Nis-Serbia). 30 November 2020.

All webinars and more e-learning resources are available at Euraxess: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/hrs4r/e-learning

Virtual meeting of members of Euraxess Spain, in which FECYT reported on national and European developments in human resources for research. 2 December 2020. 

Documentation and links of interest - HRS4R

These activities are co-funded by ERDF Operational Programme of the Region of Murcia 2014-2020,
Line of Action 2: “Guidance, search for partners and funding for International R&D&I Projects” - Action line ATRAE