hr excellence in research award british council, 9 march 2012 ellen pearce [email protected]
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HR Excellence in Research AwardBritish Council, 9 March 2012
Ellen Pearce [email protected]
Aims
This presentation will cover:
how the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ award fits within EURAXESS
the aims and benefits of the process
gaining the ‘HR Excellence in Research' badge
Vitae support for implementation
Two-year internal review
next steps
Background
September 2005: European Charter and Code launched as part of UK Presidency
May 2007: EC survey of EC&C awareness among researchers
November 2008: EC HR Strategy of Researchers launched by European Commission
2009: European Charter and Code implementation brought into the EURAXESS site
September 2009: Vitae formally joins ‘HR Strategy for Researchers Group’ on behalf of the British Council, RCUK, UUK and UK HEIs
March 2010 first European HEIs receive ‘HR Excellence in Research’ award
Background
European Commission’s ‘Partnership for Researchers’
Open recruitment and portability of grants
Social security and supplementary benefits for mobile researchers
Attractive employment and working conditions
Improving training, skills and experience
Innovation Union: more jobs, improved lives, better society
Ensuring our best researchers and innovators are in Europe
Promoting excellence in education and skills development– Strategies for training enough researchers to meet national R&D
targets, attractive working conditions
www.bis.gov.uk/nap
HR Excellence in Research Award
Acknowledges a commitment to good management of researchers and the principles of the Charter and Code
Formal recognition and profile– EURAXESS site– Jobs listings– Funding applications
Become part of pan-European network
UK has 50 institutions with the award
The UK approachQAA Code covers doctoral programmes
Concordat implementation covers research staff
Aims to streamline processes for UK HEIs; Concordat progress review and HR Excellence in Research process work together
Concordat Strategy Group oversees implementation
A sub-group reporting to the Concordat Strategy Group assesses UK submissions
Vitae provides support for HEIs who want to gain the badge
Submission deadlines for 2012: 16 March, 22 June and 26 October
Agreed wording and use of logo for UK HEIs
The process: HR Strategy for Researchers
Five step process
Institutional conducts an internal analysis to compare practice against the Concordat principles
Institutions publish an Action Plan for how they will address the gaps identified in the gap analysis
Commission acknowledge the strategy
Through their own internal quality assurance mechanism, institutions will carry out a self-assessment at least every two years to test and update their Action Plans
At least every four years an external evaluation will take place.
Meeting the criteriaThe action plan should make explicit reference to the gap analysis and findings. Demonstrate wide stakeholder engagement in the gap analysis
The action plan needs to be robust and include actions, people/committees/roles responsible and timeframes
Make visible researcher engagement
Write for external audience
Useful to include reference to activities that are already in place to meet the Concordat principles
Other informationInstitutional profile draws data from the survey of HEI responses to the Concordat:
– Number of research staff– Concordat responsibility– Monitoring mechanisms in place– Activities undertaken– Links to DoP practices related to the Concordat– IPR, rights and authorship
For all 2012 submissions, HEIs will have the opportunity to update their institutional profile
Benefits
Strategic level
Impetus to change
Consolidated internal processes
External recognition
Meeting researchers needs
Added value for funding applications
Next steps for UK HEIs with the award [internal review]
Institutions will be asked to undertake their internal review and publish the outcomes within two years of them gaining the award
Institutions will need to publish a short report (up to 3 pages) for review by the UK panel (this includes European Commission representation) which covers:
– An outline of how the institution undertook their internal review (including, how researchers’ views were taken into account during the review and, where relevant, how the review linked with existing QA and other implementation/monitoring mechanisms)
– Key achievements and progress against the strategy, indicators and actions identified in the original action plan
– Next steps and focus of future strategy for the next two years, including success measures
Ask institutions to publish an updated action plan for the next two years with deliverables and accountabilities
Next steps for UK HEIs with the award [external review]
The researcher surveys are run on a two-yearly basis, ie in 2011, 2013, 2015 thereby providing longitudinal comparison data in advance of 2014/5.
In 2014/5 there is a major external evaluation of progress which enables institutions to meet the requirements of the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ process– Demonstrate progress towards the fulfilment of the Concordat
principles and action plan– Externally evaluated either through external reviewers or
national QA mechanisms– Renewal or withdrawal of the acknowledgement
Vitae work that supports implementation
Enhancing professional and career development for researchers – Researcher Development Framework www.vitae.ac.uk/rdf – Resources www.vitae.ac.uk – Courses www.vitae.ac.uk/programmes
Understanding the views of researchers: management of CROS and PIRLS www.vitae.ac.uk/cros
Practice sharing – Vitae Hubs www.vitae.ac.uk/hubs– Database of practice www.vitae.ac.uk/dop
Evidencing the impact of training and development www.vitae.ac.uk/impact
Next stepsLet us know if/when you intend to submit
Use web section and FAQs www.vitae.ac.uk/hrexcellencebadge
Send us a copy of your Concordat implementation plan for review in advance of the submission dates
We will send you the additional information about your HEI and Concordat implementation from the HEI Concordat survey – confirm or update the data
"I am delighted to announce that thirteen UK institutions have been awarded the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge by the European Commission for their work to implement the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.
It is right that as we put research at the heart of our plans for future prosperity, we prioritise the development of excellent researchers able to capitalise on the impact of that research."
David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science, December 2010