National Researcher Careers Framework and the EU HR Logo Award
Mutual Learning Exercise
Date: 8 June 2018
Time: 10.30 - 3.00 pm
Location: GW302, Greenway Hub, DIT, Grangegorman
Target Audience: Sec/FCs HR Managers, Heads/VPs of Research/Innovation
Background and Context:
The Irish Government’s research and innovation strategy Innovation 2020 identifies an action to “Develop a coherent national policy on structured progression for researchers”. This action aims to rectify structural deficiencies first identified in the 2008 Advisory Science Council Report Towards a Framework for Researcher Careers. These include the lack of a structured progression to employment within academia (recognising that these opportunities are limited), unclear pathways to exiting academic employment, and varying levels of learning and development opportunities across higher education. In the absence of a national Researcher Careers Framework (RCF), many IOTs have put in place their own. Recently, a proposal for a national RCF has been prepared by the Irish Universities Association, with input from the IOT sector. The proposal has received positive feedback from DES and DPER and is likely to be implemented during 2019, following approval by the Innovation 2020 Implementation Group. The IOTs will be required to implement certain aspects of this RCF. A related matter is provision of pension benefits for IOT-based researchers.
Researcher careers has long been a topic of interest for the European Commission. This led to the publication of the “Charter and Code" and the subsequent establishment of the “HR Strategy for Researchers” (HRS4R). The HRS4R allows organisations to apply for the HR logo badge of excellence, based on a gap analysis of their internal policies/procedures with respect to the Charter and Code, and a follow-on action plan. Five IOTs, five universities and the RCSI have received the “HR logo” award to-date. This currently provides an advantage when applying for EU research funding, an aspect that will be strengthened in the forthcoming “FP9” programme from 2021 onwards.
MLE Purpose:
- To inform the IOTs about the proposed national RCF and existing IOT-specific frameworks and discuss the implications of the national RCF for the sector;
- To share sectoral knowledge on applying for and retaining the EU “HR logo” award.
National Researcher Careers Framework and the EU HR Logo Award
Mutual Learning Exercise
GW302, Greenway Hub, DIT, Grangegorman
