The HRS4R (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers) supports professional development, mobility, equality of opportunities, and the quality of research, improving the attractiveness of an institution as a work place in the European research area. Its objective is to improve the work environment and conditions, as well as the recruitment processes of researchers. The strategy may be implemented by private and public entities. In the long term, the actions set forth in the HRS4R are aimed at increasing the attractiveness of research institutions by attracting and keeping talented researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Institutions that take actions as part of the HRS4R are obliged to create a friendly, transparent, and growth-inducing work environment for researchers at all stages of their career.
The European Charter for Researchers* is a document developed by the European Commission that sets out a set of principles and requirements concerning the roles, responsibilities, and rights of researchers, their employers, and research funding organisations.
*At first, the HRS4R framework was determined by two documents (the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers; abbreviated as C&C) containing the basic principles that should guide institutions operating in the field of R&D and organisations funding research.
In December 2023, the EU member countries accepted the Council of the European Union Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation, and entrepreneurial talents in Europe.
Since January 2024, the European Charter and the Code of Conduct have been replaced by a single, updated document, the so-called European Charter of Researchers. The reason behind it is the adaptation of the provisions to current challenges and the ever-changing environment.
Main objectives of the European Charter for Researchers
The European Charter of Researchers covers the following:
The action plan for the implementation of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers at AGH University, referred to as the “AGH University HRS4R Strategy”, is a document prepared by the Team for the implementation of the principles of the European Charter of Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers at AGH University.
The AGH University HRS4R Strategy includes general information about the university, the methodology behind the implementation of C&C, the analysis of internal legal regulations and practices at the university as well as a schedule of corrective and improvement actions for 2024–2025.
In the implementation of the goals determined in the AGH University HRS4R Strategy, university units take a number of actions to improve working conditions and the research environment, as well as to increase the awareness of researchers.
Institutions implementing the European Charter for Researchers are recognised by the European Commission with the HR Excellence in Research award. AGH University received that award in May 2024 (the application for the award was initiated in April 2023 by AGH University Rector Professor Jerzy Lis).
It enhances the position of AGH University as an institution that supports academia, promotes transparent recruitment rules, career development, and researcher mobility. This distinction also represents an important step towards internationalising the university and increasing its attractiveness as a place of work for researchers from around the world.
The HR Excellence in Research award is the start of the continuous implementation of the HRS4R principles. The process takes place in stages, from the preparatory stage, through the development of an action plan, known as the AGH University HRS4R Strategy, to the monitoring of the implementation process. It requires constant monitoring of both planned activities and the actual situation.
