Interview with Ignacio Aedo and Javier Prieto regarding the HR LOGO

IGNACIO AEDO

UC3M Vice-Rector for Faculty

“This recognition will mean continuous improvement through the review of human resource policies on teaching and research staff”

What does obtaining this accreditation mean from a Human Resources point of view?

It is recognition for the University for having aligned its human resources management policies with the principles of the European Charter for Reseachers and the Code of Conduct for the Recrutiment of Reseachers. This means continous improvement through the review of human resources policies on teaching and research staff.

From the standpoint of UC3M Human Resources, which strategies will affect the reseachers’ environment?

The strategy is defined by the UC3M Action Plan and was required by the European Commission to obtain this recognition. It is based on four main areas:
Recrutiment/hiring: UC3M shall ensure transparency in hiring criteria as established in the report Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recrutiment of researchers (OTM-R). 

Professional career: UC3M shall establish a career plan for teaching and research staff.

Training: UC3M shall design a Training Plan for faculty and researchers that combines cross-curricular technical knowledge and skills development needed to achieve excellence in teaching and research.

Good practice in research: UC3M shall prepare a Code of Good Practice as a guarantee of quality.

 How often and for how long is this accreditation authorized?

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid is currently implementing its Action Plan, after having obtained recognition in December 2016. This recognition lasts for a period of four years, with a self-evaluation carried out every two years and an external evaluation conducted after four years by external experts hired by the European Commission. Fianlly, there is a phase for renewing this recognition, five years after recognition of the logo and 3 years after the self-evaluation.

FRANCISCO JAVIER PRIETO

UC3M Vice-Rector of Scientific Policy 

 “Obtaining accreditation will improve the university’s participation in calls by the European Commission for researcher training and mobility”

What does obtaining this accreditation mean for the research environment?

This accreditation aims to align our university’s policies and practices of recruiting teaching and research staff at a European level. As it deals with a process of continuous improvement, it will help adapt these practices at the this stage, but it will also offer  revision and updating procedures that will help it adapt to changes that will surely come about in our environment

At a more specific level, obtaining accreditation will improve the university’s participation in the European Community’s calls for programs for researcher training and mobility, particularly in acquiring excellent researchers in ERC convocations or via actions Marie Skłodowska-Curie. This will be ensured by a more stable and attractive professional and work environment, adjusted to European Commission recommendations.

Will this accreditation be an incentive for researchers who come to the UC3M to pursue their careers?

Once improvements associated with accreditation have been implemented, researchers will have clear information available from the moment they are admitted into the university, to plan a research career equivalent with other European centres.

In addition, they will receive more extensive support to ensure success in these careers, such as information regarding good practice in research management or regarding measures taken to achieve gender equality.

This accreditation will be a boost to the internationalization of the University and its teaching staff, facilitating the mobility of this last group and attracting talent in a European environment.

This award requires a two-year action plan. What are the main goals that the university has to meet?

Among the steps to be undertaken in the next few years, the most relevant that stand out would be the committments to develop:

A career plan for teaching and research staff

A code of good practice in research

A reception protocol for new teaching and research staff 

A new employment website

Revision of the gender equality plan

Although it is important to point out that, along with these steps, there are many others (up to 17) to be carried out in different areas of human resources and research.