Human Resources Strategy for Reseachers

At CREAF, we’re proud to hold the HRS4R certification, which demonstrates our commitment to the excellent management of the European Charter and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. We renew this certification every four years to ensure we continuously improve our recruitment processes, working conditions, and the development of all our staff. 

bones pràctiques HRS4R

On July 2015 CREAF received the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) award that supports research institutions in the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code ) in their policies and practices. These two documents describe the rights and responsibilities of both the researchers and their employers and contribute to the creation of a labour market that is transparent, attractive and open to the researchers at an international level, as well as turning research into an attractive professional career. 

Hr excellence in research

In July 2023, the European Commission introduced a new Charter for Researchers, directed at researchers, employers, funders, and policymakers. This new Charter is an evolution of the previous (2005) European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers ans is  structured in four pillars: 

  1. Ethics, Integrity, Gender and Open Science
  2. Researchers Assessment, Recruitment and Progression
  3. Working Conditions and Practices
  4. Research Careers and Talent Development 

2024-2027 HRS4R Action Plan 

The 2024–2027 HRS4R Action Plan at CREAF builds on past strategies and has been developed by the HRS4R Working Group, comprising the Director, the Administration Manager, and representatives of researchers and research managers. The plan aligns with CREAF’s overall strategy such as CREAF’s Strategic Plan and the Severo Ochoa institutional project and has received input from institutional participatory bodies like the Workers’ Committee, the EDI Committee, CoARA Comission and others.

The plan is informed by a comprehensive GAP analysis based on the revised Charter for Researchers, feedback from external experts (2021 site visit), and a September HRS4R 2024 staff survey.

All these inputs have guided the prioritization of new actions proposed to further strengthen CREAF’s HRS4R policies for the 2024–2027 period. For more information, please download the following document:  

Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment Policy

CREAF is dedicated to fostering an Open, Transparent, and Merit-Based Recruitment (OTM-R) process for researchers. We promote a diverse, inclusive, and equal-opportunity environment through a policy aligned with the principles of the Charter and Code. This framework applies to all three phases of the recruitment process: advertising and application, evaluation and selection, and appointment.

The objectives of the OTM-R policy are to:

  1. Ensure the recruitment of the most qualified candidate for each position,
  2. Guarantee equal opportunities and accessibility for all applicants,
  3. Support the development of international careers through collaboration, competition, and mobility, and
  4. Enhance the appeal of research careers.

To monitor the effectiveness of our OTM-R policy, we publish annual indicators to evaluate its implementation.

For further information, please download the following documents