Research Councils UK (RCUK) congratulates the thirteen UK universities that have been awarded ‘Human Resource Excellence in Research’ badges by the European Commission (EC). The UK is now leading the way in Europe with twenty-three institutions compared to fifteen across the rest of the EU to have a HR Excellence in Research badge.
The thirteen new institutes who join the list of those honoured are Aberdeen, Aberystwyth, Bristol, Cambridge, De Montfort, Glasgow, Hertfordshire, Leeds, London School of Economics, Loughborough, Edinburgh Napier, Swansea and the Institute of Cancer Research. The join the universities of Aston, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Heriot-Watt, Newcastle, Queen Margaret University (Edinburgh), Reading, Salford and York who were all awarded a badge earlier this year.
To be eligible for an EC badge, UK universities must be part of a process which acknowledges their alignment to the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their recruitment. In the UK this process incorporates both the ‘QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes’ and the ‘Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers’. It also includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking.
RCUK are signatories to the Concordat and implementing the Concordat is central to the objectives of the Research Councils because of the contribution trained researchers make to the academic sector and the wider economy.
More information about the HR Excellence in Research Awards and eligibility can be found at the Vitae website here
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Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Notes for editors
The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers can be found here
A UK-wide process enables UK HEIs to gain the European Commission’s ‘HR excellence in research’ badge, which acknowledges their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. The UK process incorporates both the QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers to enable institutions that have published Concordat implementation plans to gain the ‘HR excellence in research’ badge. The UK approach includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Vitae is a national organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of postgraduate researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and research institutes. We play a major role in the drive for high-level skills and innovation and in the UK's goal to produce world class researchers. Our vision is for the UK to be world-class in supporting the personal, professional and career development of researchers. Vitae is supported by Research Councils UK (RCUK), managed by CRAC: The Career Development Organisation and delivered in partnership with regional Hub host universities. www.vitae.ac.uk.