The HR Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is a tool enabling employers and funders to put the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code) into practice. The Charter and Code is a set of general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers, employers and/or funders of researchers. The aim of the Charter and Code is to ensure that the nature of the relationship between researchers and employers or funders is conducive to successful performance in generating, transferring, sharing and disseminating knowledge and technological development, and to the career development of researchers. The Charter and Code also recognises the value of all forms of mobility as a means for enhancing the professional development of researchers.
Limerick Institute of Technology is a member of the fourth cohort of EU institutions to apply for the HR Excellence in Research Award. LIT fully endorses the principles of the Charter and Code and is aiming to use these principles to provide a more attractive research environment for researchers at all stages of their career paths. The logo will enable LIT to promote itself to prospective research talent as a provider of a stimulating and favourable research-led working environment in which researchers at all stages of their career paths are valued and recognised as professionals. In order to achieve the HR Excellence in Research Award, which is awarded to research institutions and funding agencies that have made significant progress in implementing the Charter and Code.
LIT is developing a HRS4R though five main steps:
- An Internal Gap Analysis involving key stakeholders (LIT’s HRS4R Task Force) in the research community at LIT was conducted with a view to identifying areas where a gap exists between LIT policy and practice, and the principles of the Charter and Code;
- LIT is now developing its own HRS4R Policy which will include a concrete Action Plan with milestones and deliverables aimed at addressing gaps identified during the internal analysis phase (HRS4R Survey Information);
- The HRS4R Policy will be submitted for approval to the Research and Development Steering Group, Research and Development Sub-Committee of Academic Council, Academic Council and Governing Body at LIT before submission to the European Commission for review and formal acknowledgement. Formal acknowledgement by the European Commission implies the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo;
- Progress in the implementation of LIT’s HRS4R Policy and Action Plan will be subjected to a Self-Assessment after two years;
- An External Evaluation of LIT’s HRS4R Policy and Action Plan will be carried out at least every four years.
The LIT Graduate Studies and Research Office (GRO) performs a pivotal role in facilitating the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of LIT‘s HRS4R and Action Plan.