Research and Innovation

Charter & Code, the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers and related EU policy initiatives

Dr. Dagmar Meyer European CommissionDG Research and Innovation

IREER WorkshopBerlin, 15-16 May 2012

Overview

• From the Careers Communication to the Charter & Code and the European Partnership for Researchers

• The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers

• State of play

• Europe 2020, Innovation Union and ERA Framework

• Related on-going policy initiatives and links to "Horizon 2020"

Careers Communication

• COM Communication (2003) “Researchers in the ERA: One profession, multiple careers” “The present Communication … aims to analyse the

different elements which characterise the profession and defines the various factors which condition the development of researchers’ careers at European level, namely:

• the role and nature of research training, • the differences in recruitment methods, • the contractual and budgetary dimension, and,

finally, • the evaluation mechanisms and • the progress perspectives within the career.”

Charter & Code

• COM Recommendation to Member States (March 2005) on a “European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment” • based on broad stakeholder consultation process

• follow-up activities focusing on implementation

• Competitiveness Council (April 2005) invites Member States to: • “raise awareness of the Charter and the Code within their

own country, on a voluntary basis, engage actively with employers, funding organisations and researchers and other relevant parties on their application…”

Charter & Code – what is it?

• Reference framework for rights and obligations of researchers, their employers and funders: Ethical & professional aspects, incl. research freedom

and accountability, non-discrimination, evaluation/appraisal

Recruitment, incl. transparency of the process, judging merit, recognition of value of mobility and of qualifications

Working conditions & social security, incl. research environment, stability of employment, gender issues, career development, and representation in governance

Training, incl. supervision, continued professional development and access to training

ERA Expert Group recommendations

• Expert Group report (2008) on “Realising a single labour market for researchers”: “Any organisation in receipt of public funds for

research which signed the C&C is required:

• to define and advertise a Human Resources Mission Statement, in line with the C&C spirit, focusing on the recruitment, career development and retirement procedures of their respective researchers; (…)”

• Expert Group recommends creation of a ‘ERA – Researchers’ Human Resources Label’

European Partnership for Researchers

• COM Communication (2008) “Better careers and more mobility: a European partnership for researchers”. Four main themes:

Open recruitment and portability of grants

Meeting the social security and supplementary pension needs of mobile researchers

Providing attractive employment and working conditions

Enhancing the training, skills and experience of researchers

• EPR implementation monitored by the Steering Group Human Resources and Mobility (SGHRM)

HR Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R)

• Tool to support the implementation of Charter & Code – launched 2008

Voluntary, based on self-assessment and mutual learning

Open to all research organisations and funders

Flexible validation approach, recognizes the variety of situations across institutions

More than 200 institutions already taking part

Aim: include all major public employers and funders of researchers in Europe (critical mass, spill-over effects)

HRS4R – how does it work?

• Implemented via 5-step voluntary programme:

• Internal gap analysis by institution, involving key institutional stakeholders including researchers

• Development and publication of institutional HR strategy for researchers and action plan in response to gaps identified

• Acknowledgement of progress by Commission (logo)

• Self-assessment of implementation after at most two years

• External analysis after at most four years

Key success factors and benefits

• HR Strategy process should be firmly integrated in overall institutional strategy

• Support by institutional leadership crucial

• Support by national and sectoral organisations • Should help institutions to do what they should do

anyway, just better: more efficiently more effectively with more impact

• Evidence suggests: better HR management leads to better results

Charter & Code – state of play

• More than 450 individual endorsements from 35 countries, plus various International/European organizations

• Representing more than 1200 individual institutions, including universities, research institutes, funding bodies, umbrella organisations and professional associations

• First endorsement from country outside EU MS/AC (Tomsk Polytechnic University, Russia)

• But still some Member States and Associated Countries without any endorsements…

HRS4R – state of play

• “Institutional HR Strategy Group” set up in 2009, 3 cohorts operational so far

• 4th cohort to be launched shortly

• 150 members: universities, research institutions, funding bodies,…

• Various multipliers and stakeholder representatives as observers

• 84 logos awarded so far (including 50 (!!) UK institutions)

• NB: HR Strategy process not restricted to members of HR Strategy Group

Europe 2020 and Innovation Union

• COM Communication (2010) “Europe 2020 - A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth” Big Societal Challenges - Climate, Energy, Health, Security,

Resource Efficiency…

7 Flagship Initiatives: Innovation Union, Agenda for New Skills and Jobs, Digital Agenda, Youth on the Move, etc.

• COM Communication (2010) “Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative - Innovation Union” Innovation overarching policy objective

Main obstacles: unfavorable framework conditions & fragmentation of effort

Innovation Union Commitments

• #4: Completing the ERA: In 2012, COM will propose an ERA framework and supporting measures to remove obstacles to mobility and cross-border cooperation (to be in force by end 2014), addressing among others:

- quality of doctoral training, attractive employment conditions and gender balance in research careers;

- mobility of researchers across countries and sectors, including through open recruitment in public research institutions and comparable research career structures and by facilitating the creation of European supplementary pension funds.

European Research Area Framework

• Article 182(5) TFEU entitles the Union to adopt all measures that it deems necessary to achieve the ERA.

• Broad Stakeholder Consultation confirmed urgent need for action in key areas such as open recruitment, portability of grants, training and career development (including working conditions).

• Communication in June 2012, proposing a basket of concrete measures

• Close cooperation with stakeholder organisations and Member States

Related on-going policy initiatives

• “Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training” (including adherence to principles of Charter & Code)

• “European Framework for Research Careers” to provide researcher competency classification independent of a particular career path or sector

• Support for the creation of “Pan-European Pension Funds for Researchers” (pilot schemes) by employers of researchers

• Assessment of implementation and impact of the “Scientific Visa Package” (cooperation with DG HOME)

• Euraxess – Researchers in Motion initiative

Links to "Horizon 2020"

• Horizon 2020 will enhance attractiveness of the research profession and facilitate mobility in a cross-cutting way

• Charter & Code references in Marie Curie Actions in FP7 exemplary => continue good practice

• New: Specific action to support institutions implementing ERA principles in innovative ways => including Charter & Code

• New: ERA Chairs to attract outstanding academics to institutions with high potential => including support for creating supportive and competitive research environment

More information:

Visit the EURAXESS portal, section “Rights”, at

http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/rights

or contact us at

RTD-CHARTER@ec.europa.eu