European Charter and Code of Conduct
In March 2005 the European Commission adopted the European Charter for the Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers and recommended its implementation by member states. These two documents are aimed at researchers and the institutions that hire them and are fundamental to the research policy of the European Union (EU).
The Charter lays out a set of general principles and requirements that define the roles, responsibilities and rights of researchers, employers and enterprises and public institutions that provide funding. The Code highlights the importance of open and transparent recruitment procedures, and of selection committees, which should be diverse as well as experienced
EURAXESS
This was the context behind the launch of EURAXESS -Researchers in Motion- whose aim is to improve the working conditions of researchers in Europe and help to improve the appeal of research careers in Europe. One of the cornerstones is the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
HRS4R seal
The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is based on a process of continuous improvement proposed by the European Union to support the implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Methodologically, the HRS4R is based on the classical self-assessment procedures of excellence models, where the institution periodically analyses its policies and practicals and defines an action plan for progressively aligning them with the principles established in the Charter and the Code. The HRS4R became a key tool for research institutions following launch of the Horizon 2020 (H2020) programme in 2014, seeing that the EU requires beneficiaries to adopt the necessary measures for implementing the principles of the Charter and the Code.
Further information on HRS4R - video