Are you familiar with the “HR Excellence in Research” label ?
Universities within the Federation Wallonia-Brussels (FWB) proudly carry the HRS4R label, which stands for “Human Resources Strategy for Researchers,” awarded by the European Commission. Did you know that UMONS was a pioneer in this field and was first awarded the label in 2011? Obtaining this label is crucial, particularly for benefiting from European funding sources. The label must be renewed at the end of this year, 2024.
It requires adherence to the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, developed by the European Commission. This European Charter outlines a set of fundamental principles aimed at promoting research careers, with the goal of supporting excellence in research and innovation across Europe. It highlights the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders, comprising 20 principles organized around four pillars.
By following an action plan, researchers—ranging from PhD students to full professors—as well as authorities and administrative bodies, implement these principles with the institutional goal of enhancing both attractiveness and professional well-being.
The European Commission requires institutions holding this label to undergo an audit every three years to verify the progress of their action plan.
UMONS’ most recent renewal took place in October 2021. Work is currently underway to submit an internal evaluation of the actions undertaken, as well as a new action plan by the end of 2024.
The current action plan is available on the UMONS website. UMONS staff members are also invited to submit action proposals for the new action plan. Everyone’s ideas are welcome via euraxess@umons.ac.be.
