On February 26th 2021, CSIC was awarded with the "HR Excellence in Research" award from the European Commission. This award is a recognition of the institution's commitment to the development of a Human Resources (HR) strategy for researchers, designed for the application by CSIC of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (C&C) [Download pdf]. Making CSIC more attractive to researchers, improving also the attractiveness of national research systems and contributing to the development of the European labour market and the consolidation of the European Research Area (ERA).
In December 2023, the Charter and the Code were expanded with a new document: the Annexes to the COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on a European framework for attracting and retaining research, innovation, and entrepreneurial talent in Europe. All of this makes the CSIC more attractive to researchers, while also enhancing the appeal of national research systems and contributing to the development of the European labor market and the consolidation of the European Research Area (ERA).
Obtaining this award is the result of the analysis carried out in the last two years from the Headquarters Organization (ORGC) and with the collaboration of many researchers about the human resources policies of the institution, which resulted in the elaboration of the Action Plan to improve them. But, above all, this award should serve as an incentive for all of us to develop all the proposed actions over the next two years.
The implementation of the actions included in the Action Plan requires the involvement of the entire staff of the institution. It is an ambitious plan, which includes a large number of actions, of varying degrees of importance, and which affect different levels of the institution.
There are many actions at the level of directors, managers and research staff, who play a key role in providing a favourable, encouraging and stimulating work environment that promotes equal opportunities, ethical integrity and a balance between work and personal life. Activities in which the institution promotes active participation in the development of the Action Plan.
One of the measures included in the Action Plan is the development of an open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment process for staff, known as the OTM-R policy (Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment).
The OTM-R policy aims to comply with the core principles of the aforementioned Code of Conduct and the European Charter for Researchers, in line with the HR Excellence in Research Award, and to ensure an attractive, open, and sustainable European labor market for researchers, as well as working conditions and career development opportunities consistent with those documents. Achieving this requires a continuous process of improvement and adaptation to change.
For these purposes, two documents prepared within the framework of the HRS4R Strategy working group are being published: “Current Status of the OTM-R Policy” and “Proposals for Improvement of the OTM-R Policy.” These documents include measures already implemented and others planned for the coming years in this area.
Proposals for improvement OTMR Policy
A specific website for the HRS4R strategy has been set up at the CSIC https://hrs4r.csic.es/.
Maintaining the aforementioned award requires a periodic review of the Action Plan, which will be evaluated by independent reviewers.
The following image shows the phases of the HRS4R procedure.
2021-2022 HRS4R Action Plan
The Gap Analysis and Action Plan were developed in an inclusive and open process involving a working group with representatives from all ORGC administrative units, trade unions and all professional categories of researchers.
The final documentation of the Action Plan for obtaining the "Excellence in Human Resources in Research" seal is as follows:
- CSIC's resubmission file to the HR Excellence in Research Award Download
- Annex 1: Extended version of the Action Plan (highlighting with yellow underline all the implemented changes). Download
- Annex 2: Synoptic table of the Action Plan, where actions are organised in: four blocks, according to the Charter and Code; around the main GAP principles related to and grouped within topics. Download
- Annex 3: Table of the Action Plan with the prioritised actions. Download
- Annex 4: Table of the scheduled Action Plan. Download
The rest of the templates presented are also available:
For any further information, please contact us by e-mail at HRS4R@csic.es
