Applying for the HREiR Award: frequently asked questions
General questions
Who can apply for the HR Excellence in Research (HREiR) Award?
Any organisation employing or funding researchers is eligible to apply for the Award, which represents the accreditation allocated to institutions implementing an ‘HR Strategy for Researchers’ (HRS4R).
In the UK, it is awarded to institutions implementing the ‘Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers’ (or the ‘Researcher Development Concordat’), whilst in EU member states and EU associated states, institutions are required to implement the ‘European Charter and Code for Researchers’ (or the ‘Charter and Code’).
Who can apply for the HREiR Award through the UK process?
Any UK organisation employing or funding researchers is eligible to apply for the Award. We would be happy to talk to member organisations from outside the UK about the support we could offer.
Which institutions already have the HREiR Award?
The list of institutions who have achieved recognition is published on the EURAXESS Rights website, and can also be found on the Vitae website (listed by cohort).
How does the HREiR Award fit with European Commission policies and funding calls for researchers?
The European Union’s flagship R&I framework programme ‘Horizon Europe’ frequently references the European Charter and Code for Researchers within its funding calls. This includes the European Research Council and the Marie Sklowdowska-Curie Actions where it is stated that organisations should provide an environment for researchers which is based on the European ‘Charter and Code’ principles.
What are the submission deadlines for institutions in Europe?
Submissions to the European Commission can be made at any time. To find out more, visit the HRS4R website.
What are the submission deadlines for UK applications in 2022-2023?
There will be two submission deadlines in 2023 for the UK process: Friday 28 March 2023 and Friday 27 October 2023. Contact Vitae for further information and advice.
Renewing the Award - UK process
What does the renewal process look like?
The process, step-by-step, is visible on our website here.
Briefly, when renewing their Award, institutions prepare three documents to publish online on a publicly visible webpage. These are then reviewed by an external peer review team, who also conduct an interview call with representatives of your institution. The peer review team compiles a report, and sends this to the UK HREiR panel, who decide on an outcome for your institution. This may require resubmitting one or more documents with specific changes made.
What documentation do institutions need to submit?
Institutions should submit three documents, comprising a summary report, a backwards action plan and a forward action plan. Templates for the forward action plan, as well as a file package for developing an accessible version of the action plan, can be found here.
What is expected in the interview call?
Vitae will provide time and date options to the institution to hold a one-hour interview call via Zoom. Institutions should invite 3-4 representatives, one of whom must be an active researcher. During the interview, the external peer review team will pose questions surrounding Concordat implementation and on any outstanding items not covered in the documentation submitted.
Where can we find support for renewing the Award?
You can check our website for an overview of the Award process, including an introductory video. More details on the support Vitae offers, how to learn from others, and how to develop strong success measures can be found here.
