The University of Poitiers endorses the European Charter for Researchers.

Context of the strategic statement

The European Commission has made recommendations to Member States (JO L75 / 67 of 22.03.2005) on the rights and duties of researchers and their employers, in order to generalize and harmonize best practices in terms of recruitment, conditions of employment and work, facilitate mobility and increase the attractiveness of the job of researcher by offering real career prospects. These texts, known as the “European Charter for Researchers” and the “Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers”, have no binding value but the organizations that adopt them commit to change their practices to reach the ideal framework proposed.

To support the institutions that wish to implement this charter and this code of conduct, the European Union has set up a tool: the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers, HRS4R.

This tool is intended as a document analyzing the state of affairs and the development in the institution. The underlying mechanisms are:

-individual implementation by the institution on a voluntary basis;

-institutional self-assessment in respect of the autonomy of the institution;

-simplicity, flexibility and customization in line with the overall institutional strategy;

-transparent and iterative process

The HRS4R appoach includes 5 steps:

  1. Internal analysis of current practices, involving key players in research (gap analysis, or “conformity analysis”);
  2. Publication of the main results of the analysis on the institutional website, with proposed actions to achieve the identified objectives;
  3. Request for recognition of the strategy by the European Commission;
  4. Implementation within the institution through its quality assurance mechanisms, with self-assessment after 2 years;
  5. External evaluation after 4 years.

Institutions that have engaged in the process can therefore be recognized by the European Commission at their request for this approach. Recognition (HRS4R labeling) is a guarantee of quality of the institution and a real asset for the development of European projects and in particular for mobility actions.

Logo hrs4r

The strategy declaration from university of Poitiers

On September 22, 2017, the Administration Council of the University of Poitiers voted unanimously to adopt the European Charter for Researchers principles and for recognition of the definition of the researcher of Frascati and the community of the Research. The adherence to the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers at University of Poitiers is a message of commitment and strong change addressed to all researchers but also to the entire university community.

 

The University of Poitiers is now focusing its efforts on career and mobility development. The University is also committed to strengthening the support to young researchers and promote developments in areas such as gender equality in selection and evaluation committees.

Although the recommendations of the Code concerning recruitment are already widely respected in terms of job posting, selection procedures and transparency of selection criteria, the University of Poitiers is also committed to assessing the merit of researchers from broader criteria than just publications, such as recognition of mobility and its consideration in the career.

By subscribing to the principles of the Charter, the University of Poitiers makes the attractiveness of the research professions one of the main stakes of its policy in order to contribute to the construction of the European Research Area.

As such, the University of Poitiers emphasizes the importance of the field of research and its attractiveness by offering career development opportunities in order to achieve harmonization and generalization of good recruitment practices, training and support for early-stage (PhD) and experienced researchers.

The implementation process of the university of Poitierss

Since October 2017, Poitiers University has been involved in the implementation of this project: the first task was to make a diagnosis on the current state of implementation of the 40 principles of the Charter and the Code. This work led to the development of an action plan that was submitted to the validation of the Strategic Committee (composed of members of the Rector’s Board, incl. the HRS4R Coordinator, as well as Directors of Central Offices and Representatives from the Research community), as requested by the European Commission.

Stages of internal consultation at the university of Poitiers

After validation of the action plan by the Strategic Committee, the university community was consulted during the following meetings:

  • 18 and 19 June 2018: organization of 2 evening meetings with the research community to discuss about the action plan (18/6, 16h at the MSHS with the possibility of videoconferencing with Angoulême and Niort, 19/6, 16h at the « Passerelle » building);
  • 5 July 2018: presentation of the action plan to the Academic Council;
  • 14 September 2018: presentation of the action plan to the University Technical Council;

The action plan is available at the following link.

Following the meeting of June 18 and June 19, 2018, we invite you to send us your feedback by email to hrs4r@univ-poitiers.fr

Gap Analysis and OTM-R Checklist

Video of the presentation of the European Charter for Researchers and of the HRS4R process

HRS4R label awarded to the University of Poitiers

Following the internal consultation steps and the preparation of the HRS4R application forms, the University of Poitiers applied to HRS4R label at the end of August 2019. It was officially awarded the HRS4R label by the European Commission in July 2020.

Since the, the Action Plan is implemented, with a regular monitoring performed by a Task Group (composed of the HRS4R Coordinator, the Head of Quality and Internal Control, as well as Directors of Central Offices), in constant contact with the Rector’s Board.


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