Human Resources Strategy for Research - Excellence in Research

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The "HR Strategy for Researchers" is a mechanism to support the implementation of  the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (C&C).

This is a set of general principles adopted by the European Commission in March 2005 with the aim to achieve for an excellent human resources management and to make research careers more attractive in order to enhance the development of a dynamic European research community and an open labour market for researchers.

Interested organizations, on a voluntary basis, may adhere to the C&C principles and to the HRS4R by signing a declaration of commitment and following a 5-step process:

• The participating institution carries out an internal Gap Analysis, evaluating the level of compliance of the internal policies and practices with the principles set forth in the C&C.
• On the basis of the results of this analysis, the participating institution develops its own Action Plan to ensure and/or improve alignment with the Charter & Code principles.
• The Analysis and Action Plan are then reviewed and approved by the European Commission. Acknowledged institutions can use the "HR Excellence in Research" logo to promote themselves as providers of stimulating and favourable working environments.
• The participating institution commits itself to an Internal Self-Evaluation after two years.
• The participating institution commits itself to an External Review four years after being awarded the logo.

In March 2014 Unifi signed a Declaration of Commitment letter for the implementation of a human resources strategy for researchers incorporating the European charter for researchers and a code of conduct for their recruitment (C&C).

In recognition of Unifi commitment to continuously improve its human resources policies in line with the European C&C Principles and to achieve fair and transparent recruitment and appraisal procedures, the European Commission on 12th December 2018 has granted Unifi with the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ award.

Useful links

• Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R)
• HRS4R Acknowledged Institutions
• European Charter for Researchers
• Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers
• Euraxess
• Euraxess Italy

The first internal review took place in 2021, followed by a new internal check performed about the status of implementation of the C&C Principles within the University of Florence (Gap Analysis 2021) and the adoption of a new Action Plan for 2021-2023. During 2023 the University started preparing for the external review by the evaluators who will be in charge on behalf of the European Commission to visit the University of Florence during 2024.

In recent years, in order to promote policies and practices aligned with the principles of the European Charter and Code, the University has undertaken numerous actions, detailed in specific Action Plans that can be downloaded from the links provided below, which include:

• Drafting an OTM-R Policy containing a description of the University's recruitment processes
• Translating into English relevant information posted on the University website regarding job opportunities
• Support and assistance to facilitate researchers participation in International, European, National and local funding opportunities, especially within excellence programmes
• Support and awareness measures regarding Open Science and Open Access
• Promotion of mobility opportunities
• Promotion of training on how to teach with the courses "APPI" and "DIDEL"
• Promotion of soft skills training

Related documents

• Unifi Declaration of Commitment letter (pdf)
• Unifi Open, Transparent and Merit Based Recruitment (OTM-R) policy (pdf)
• Unifi Internal Analysis 2018 (pdf)
• Unifi Internal Analysis 2021 (pdf)
• Unifi Internal Analysis 2023 (pdf)
• Unifi Action Plan 2018-2020 (pdf)
• Unifi Action Plan 2021-2023 (pdf)
• Unifi Action Plan 2024-2026 (pdf)
• Online survey (pdf)