The University of Lille, a university of excellence and inclusiveness, encourages international mobility, particularly within Europe, and is committed to the HRS4R process to guarantee the best working conditions for its research staff.
Why commit to the HRS4R?
By officially committing to the process for obtaining the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ label on 26 January 2023, the University of Lille is reaffirming its policy towards, and commitment to, its research staff, working to build and maintain a stimulating, open and attentive working environment.
The University of Lille is aiming to join the 701 institutions and organisations that have already committed to the HRS4R process (by 1 May 2023).
Being awarded the HR Excellence in Research will enable the university to:
- Improve its appeal within the European Research Area
- Benefit from recruitment opportunities
- Implement its policy as a responsible employer
- Make careers in research more attractive
- Demonstrate the quality of the steps taken to welcome research staff in the best possible conditions
- Meet European programme requirements increasingly effectively
Being awarded the HR Excellence in Research label is a marker of a high-quality approach for research staff that will enable them to:
- Benefit from a set of recruitment procedures guaranteeing an open, transparent and merit-based approach to recruitment
- Progress in a professional environment that is committed to quality of life at work
- Continuous training through a wide range of training courses
- Be supported in adopting ethical and deontological practices
- Be supported in searching for European subsidies
What is the European Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R)?
In 2008, the European Commission launched the European Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R). Based on the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers,the HRS4R process aims to improve the practices of research organisations and institutions with respect to recruitment and working conditions for researchers.
Institutions that make a commitment and progress in aligning their research and human resources policies with the 40 principles of the Charter and Code are awarded the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ label by the European Commission.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers
To make the European Research Area more attractive to the best European and international researchers and to encourage young people to embark on a career in research, in 2005 the European Commission published its recommendations for improving working conditions for researchers in the form of a ‘European Charter for Researchers’ and a ‘Code of Conduct for the Recruitment ofResearchers’.
The ‘European Charter for Researchers’ is a set of principles specifying the roles, responsibilities and rights of researchers and employers. The ‘Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers’ consists of a set of principles that are to be applied by employers when recruiting researchers.
How is the University of Lille involved in the HRS4R process?
The process officially began with the European Commission’s acceptance of the University of Lille’s commitment to applying the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for Recruitment to its practices on 26 January 2023.
The different phases
During the initial one-year phase, and in order to establish an action plan, an analysis of the gaps between our practices and the 40 principles of the Charter and Code was carried out, and the opinion of our researchers was taken into consideration via:
- The formation and consultation of 4 working groups, each tasked with reflecting on one of the four themes listed in the Charter & Code. Two three-hour meetings per working group, scheduled 15 days apart
- A questionnaire addressed to the entire scientific community.
The University of Lille has been taking such steps since July 2022. Acceptance of its letter of commitment by the European Commission on 26 January 2023 marked its official entry into the label award process.
Project milestones:
- July to December 2022: Start of process
Organisation of three meetings of the steering committee (comité de pilotage; COPIL), call for volunteer researchers to participate in working groups (WG) and holding of working groups.
- January 2023: Official university commitment
On 12 January, the university sent its letter of commitment to the European Commission, which validated it on 26 January.
- March to July 2023: Preparing the 2024-2028 action plan
March-May 2023: Drawing up an action plan (2024-2028) with the chancellery team and the various departments based on the gaps in practice identified during the gap analysis.
June 2023: The questionnaire was sent out to the university’s entire scientific community with the aim of gathering researchers’ opinions on the proposed actions.
June-July 2023: Action plan validated by the COPIL and scientific committee
Mid-July 2023: Presentation of the final action plan to the WGs and transmission of the file to the European Commission
Contact:
HRS4R project team
If you have any questions, please contact the HRS4R project team at hrs4r-ulille2022univ-lillefr
