HR Excellence in Research

In March 2005, the European Commission issued a recommendation on the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, commonly known as the Charter & Code. The purpose of the Charter & Code is to help create the world's most competitive knowledge-based economy through attractive research activities.

An attractive workplace for researchers
The Charter & Code is aimed at researchers in all stages of their careers, and covers all areas of research in both the public and private sectors. The Charter & Code consists of general principles and requirements that define the roles, responsibilities and rights of researchers and employers. The idea is that the principles should serve as a framework for the work of researchers and employers.

By adopting the Charter & Code, employers demonstrate their intention to act responsibly and professionally towards their employees. They undertake the promotion of equal treatment and transparency in their recruitment processes, and ensure fair conditions for researchers, with the intention of contributing to the development of the European Research Area. The aim is to be an attractive workplace for researchers seeking a new employer or host for their research projects.

What does this mean for the University of Gothenburg?
On August 31, 2017, Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg formally decided that the University of Gothenburg would apply for the HR Excellence in Research Award. Thereafter, a steering committee, a project manager and a project group for the effort were appointed.

The project group made a gap analysis to determine the areas in which the university needs to be developed and improve on in order to live up to the tenets of the Charter & Code. The gap analysis work was based on the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers, HRS4R, and was initiated in the spring of 2018. Representatives from all levels of the university’s research group was involved in carrying out the analysis.

Based on the results from the gap analysis, the University of Gothenburg prepared an action plan with measures to ensure that the university has a research environment with working conditions that comply with the Charter & Code.

Letter of endorsement
One year before the complete application for the HR Excellence in Research Award the University of Gothenburg submitted a Letter of Endorsement to the European Commission. Hereby the University of Gothenburg committed to follow the guidelines for recruiting researchers and to ensure a research environment with working conditions according to The European Charter & Code for Researchers.

Application for the HR Excellence in Research Award
In June 2022, the University of Gothenburg submitted an application for the award to the European Commission. The application included the GAP analysis and the action plan that describes how the University of Gothenburg plans to work with the gaps as well as a description of the process. The documents that were included in the application can be found on this page.

On 12 August 2022, the university received feedback. It contained several positive comments and some questions to be answered by October 12, 2022.