In 2016, the Euro­pean Com­mis­sion, after exa­mi­ning UTC’s Human Resources Stra­te­gy for Resear­chers (HRS4R), awar­ded UTC the "HR Excel­lence in Research" label. 

Implementing HR strategy

Promoting research-intensive careers in Europe

In 2005 the Euro­pean Com­mis­sion publi­shed its Euro­pean Char­ter for Resear­chers and Code of Conduct for the Recruit­ment of Resear­chers. In agreeing to abide by the recom­men­da­tions of the Char­ter and Code, research ins­ti­tu­tions (both pri­vate and public) under­take to improve recruit­ment pro­ce­dures and to pro­vide the best pos­sible wor­king condi­tions. Pos­ses­sing the "HR Excel­lence in Research" label has become a requi­re­ment for obtai­ning cer­tain types of Euro­pean fun­ding, in par­ti­cu­lar under the Hori­zon 2020 pro­gramme.

In order to be eli­gible for the label, ins­ti­tu­tions must adopt the Human Resources Stra­te­gy for Resear­chers (HRS4R), which lays down gui­de­lines for imple­men­ting good recruit­ment and mana­ge­ment practice.

Key steps

In close col­la­bo­ra­tion with all those invol­ved, ins­ti­tu­tions start with an ana­ly­sis of how far people's own cur­rent prac­tice com­plies with the recom­men­da­tions of the Char­ter and Code. The recom­men­da­tions are orga­ni­zed into 40 sepa­rate items under 4 broad hea­dings, name­ly ethi­cal and pro­fes­sio­nal aspects, recruit­ment, wor­king condi­tions and social secu­ri­ty and training.

At UTC, a self-exa­mi­na­tion and SWOT ana­ly­sis (SWOT = Strengths, Weak­nesses, Oppor­tu­ni­ties, and Threats) led to a plan of action sub­mit­ted to the Euro­pean Com­mis­sion in 2016.

UTC iden­ti­fied six spheres of action for the next years :

• Steng­then research freedom;
• Make good recruit­ment prac­tices systematic;
• Improve the way visi­tors are received;
• Culti­vate a sti­mu­la­ting work environment;
• Sup­port and assist resear­chers' part­ner­ships activities;
• Dis­se­mi­nate the results of research.

HR Strategy at UTC and GAP-Analysis

What has happened since 2016?

The ini­tial imple­men­ta­tion phase of the Action Plan (Dec 2016 – Dec 2018) has given sub­stan­tial, concrete results.

In the light of feed­back from resear­chers, some revi­sions have been incor­po­ra­ted into the second imple­men­ta­tion phase (Dec 2018 – Dec 2021). 

A recruit­ment poli­cy refe­rence docu­ment (OTM‑R) has been produced.

UTC has also been a very active in HRS4R outreach and has been invi­ted to contri­bute to various events and meetings. 

Implementation of the process

Phase 1 : Dec. 2016 – Dec. 2018

Open, transparent and merit-based recruitment of researchers (OTM‑R)

When Uni­ver­si­té de tech­no­lo­gie de Com­piègne embar­ked on the HR Excel­lence for Research accre­di­ta­tion pro­cess, the Euro­pean Com­mis­sion had not yet publi­shed its recom­men­da­tion that the appli­ca­tion include ele­ments to demons­trate an open, trans­pa­rent, merit-based recruit­ment policy.

UTC has long pri­ded itself on having a recruit­ment poli­cy that is open, trans­pa­rent, and merit-based, and remains com­mit­ted to adhe­ring vigo­rous­ly to the prin­ciples of OTM‑R.

Dissemination

• Trans­la­tion into English of French legis­la­tion with res­pect to the 40 items in the Char­ter and Code (ori­gi­nal docu­ment pro­vi­ded by the French Minis­try of Edu­ca­tion, Higher Edu­ca­tion and Research, toge­ther with the Confé­rence des Pré­si­dents d'Université (CPU) and trans­la­ted by David Lewis). Dis­se­mi­na­tion of the English trans­la­tion among other French uni­ver­si­ties and institutions. 
• Contri­bu­tions to web confe­rences, pre­sen­ta­tions and panel dis­cus­sions aimed at fel­low institutions:
  • AMUE/CPU/MESRI web confe­rence – feed­back from UTC, Paris, Janua­ry 2017
  • CPED/UNS/MESRI pre­sen­ta­tion – panel dis­cus­sion on HR Excel­lence for Research accre­di­ta­tion and the Equa­li­ty and Diver­si­ty labels – feed­back from UTC, Nice, June 2017
  • French Uni­ver­si­ties' Human Resources Director's Day / HRS4R – panel dis­cus­sion, feed­back from UTC, Novem­ber 2018
• Replying to que­ries by other uni­ver­si­ties and ins­ti­tu­tions embar­king on the accre­di­ta­tion process
• Sté­pha­nie Ros­sard took part in the 2018 Eras­mus Staff trai­ning (HRS4R assess­ment) orga­ni­zed by the Uni­ver­si­ty of Liège.

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