European Commission HR Excellence in Research Award

UK HEI alignment with the European Charter and Code and use of European Commission ‘HR Excellence in Research' logo

A UK-wide process enables UK HEIs to gain the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research Award, which acknowledges their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. The UK process incorporates both the 'QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes' and the 'Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers' to enable institutions that have published Concordat implementation plans to gain the HR Excellence in Research Award. The UK approach includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking.

For UK HEIs data from the ‘Higher education institution's strategic response to the Concordat' is presented alongside links to published Concordat implementation strategies or action plans.

"I am delighted to announce that... UK institutions have been awarded the HR Excellence in Research Award by the European Commission for their work to implement the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers."
David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, December 2010

The next UK submission deadline is Friday 22 June 2012. If you would like to submit and/or would like advice from Vitae on any aspect of your submission please email Jen Reynolds on jen.reynolds@vitae.ac.uk, who coordinates submissions to the UK review panel or Ellen Pearce on ellen.pearce@vitae.ac.uk. Ellen Pearce is the UK representative on the European Commission's ‘Institutional HR Strategy Group' which supports the HR Excellence in Research award process.

"We are pleased to have received this recognition and will continue to support Europe-wide initiatives through involvement in policy development and its local implementation here in Cambridge."
Professor Lynn Gladden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, University of Cambridge

"Our research staff are crucial to the success of the University. We have been working hard to ensure our researchers are supported in developing their skills and careers as well as engaging with cutting edge research. We are thrilled that this has been recognised by the European Commission."
Professor Mary Bownes, Vice Principal, Research Training, University of Edinburgh