The HR Excellence in Research Award
Monday, 23 February 2015
Recently the University had its European Commission HR Excellence in Research Award renewed. Reading was one of the first 10 UK Universities to receive the Award in 2010.
The HR Excellence in Research Award is an award given by the European Commission which recognises that the University is taking steps to implement the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers.
This is all part of a long term approach in which we are creating the best possible working environment for our Research Staff. One of the ways in which we are doing this includes the Concordat, which sets out seven principles that should govern the professional life of Research Staff. For instance, this can help us to focus on the importance of researchers' development and lifelong learning, and make sure that it is recognised and promoted at all stages of their career. The HR Excellence in Research Award is the European Commission's way of acknowledging that the University is implementing its plans to fulfill these principles.
Research Staff should, and do, take responsibility for their own professional development, however they often face an uphill struggle since there is no set career path. The University recognises that our research staff are already very skilled, but many are often unaware of their own abilities and how to best develop them. For example, some of the skills we are interested in helping our research staff to develop are management skills.
Being one of the first Universities to win this award in 2010 should assure new research staff of our commitment to both their professional development and of providing them with an excellent research environment. Also it is good for the University's relationship with the European Union (EU).
The EU government funded our research to the tune of £7.1m over the period 2013/14, and in future, EU funding may become conditional on us having the Award.
The HR Excellence in Research Award may in future have similar significance to the University from a funding perspective as the Athena Swan Award. Importantly though, the reason we pursue both of these agendas is ultimately because they are the right things to do for our valued research community.
If you have any further questions about the HR Excellence in Research Award please contact the University’s Research Staff Development Manager, Dr Justin Hutchence j.j.hutchence@reading.ac.uk