Blanquerna and the HRS4R Award

The HRS4R Researcher Human Resources Strategy is an initiative of the European Commission to drive and support institutions in the implementation of the principles of the Charter and the Code of the researcher in the their internal practices and procedures.

Blanquerna-URL welcomes and supports the recommendations of the European Commission contained in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. It also undertakes, in accordance with its internal policies, to develop its human resources strategy, adhering to the recommendations and principles set out in the Charter and the Code and to guarantee transparency, accessibility, equity and the pursuit of excellence in hiring researchers.

HRS4R in a nutshell

The new Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R), based on the 2023 update of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct, aims to improve research careers through better working conditions, open recruitment processes, and the promotion of mobility. The official EURAXESS portal provides the framework for institutions to implement these principles and obtain the “HR Excellence in Research” award.

Key Aspects of the New HRS4R Process

Updated Charter and Code: The framework was updated at the end of 2023 to foster a sustainable and attractive labor market covering all research disciplines.
Application Process: Institutions must use the official HRS4R E-tool provided by EURAXESS to manage the process, which includes a gap analysis, an action plan, and an international peer review.
Key Principles: The initiative places special emphasis on Open, Transparent, and Merit-Based Recruitment (OTM-R).
Official Resource: Detailed information, including the 20 principles and the E-tool, is available on the EURAXESS HR Excellence in Research website.

The process requires a long-term commitment to improving human resources policies, with periodic evaluations by the European Commission to maintain the award.

News

HRS4R Commitment and Awareness

OTMR and Professional Career

In 2015, the Steering Group on Human Resources and Mobility of the European Research Area developed an Open, Transparent, and Merit-Based Recruitment (OTM-R) toolkit as one of the pillars of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R). This set of tools was designed to help research organizations review their recruitment processes with the aim of promoting equality, mobility, and cooperation across Europe.

With the intention of aligning with the European Commission’s guidelines, Blanquerna has updated its recruitment policies in accordance with the criteria set out in the European Commission’s Code of Conduct (C&C).

OTM-R Policy > Download Blanquerna’s UPDATED OTM-R Recruitment Policy
OTM-R Questionnaire > OTM-R Training Questionnaire
OTM-R Training for Selection Committees > OTM-R Training (+ ES and CAT versions)

Mentoria i Carrera Professional

Blanquerna is a higher education institution with a strong track record in fundamental and applied research, which has led many of its research groups to hold prominent positions of international leadership. For this reason, the institution is committed to developing synergies and centers of excellence with key stakeholders in government, industry, and academia, while also promoting emerging research groups, integrating early-career researchers, and linking research with education at all academic levels.

Regarding the involvement of these stakeholder groups, Blanquerna bases its strategy on the quadruple helix innovation model, aimed at strengthening collaboration and cooperation by bringing these key actors together in different settings. This ecosystem enables us to foster knowledge transfer activities to meet the needs of society at large, including current social and economic challenges.

At Blanquerna, we firmly believe that a key priority of research is ensuring that society benefits from it. For this reason, we have professional research management structures in place to successfully transfer the knowledge and technology we generate, as well as career guidance initiatives to maximize and better direct our students’ access to the job market.

As part of this effort, Blanquerna has recently launched a Mentoring and Professional Development Program to provide graduate students in our research disciplines with personalized support and guidance toward career paths beyond academia, strengthening soft skills tailored to each professional environment.