Benefits of the HR Excellence in Research (HREiR) Award
The HR Excellence in Research logo tells researchers that an institution is committed to supporting their careers and can give them confidence about moving to a new institution, perhaps in a new country. A main driver for the initiative is to ensure that Europe is an attractive place for researchers from all over the globe.
There are a range of benefits for organisations that have the Award. For example, it can add value to funding applications to demonstrate a commitment to good working conditions and career development for researchers. It can also be used to promote this commitment to researchers who might be considering moving to your institution. If you advertise on EURAXESS jobs and have the HR Excellence in Research Award the logo is automatically profiled next to the job advert.
Vitae asked organisations with the Award to contribute to a Vitae review of benefits. Colleagues in universities particularly highlighted the value of the HR Excellence in Research Award as:
Contribution to strategic goals
including improving the quality and impact of research, contributing to institutional strategies to appoint, develop and retain the best staff to pursue excellence, and the preparation of researchers for wide employability and economic contribution
Impetus for change
supporting culture change internally
Support for internal processes
the focus on developing an action plan led to useful conversations about implementation and evaluation, also to recognise, refine and develop good practice
Raising the status of researcher development
including a perception that this marked out the institution as ‘being one of the best’
Meeting researchers’ needs
including improving managing bids and research groups
Attracting funding
the Award was perceived as useful particularly for European funding