HR AWARD - ICRC - International Clinical Research Center

HRS4R – HR AWARD

The International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno is constantly working to improve the working conditions of researchers and, as proof of her efforts, committed to adhering to the principles set out in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code). On 4 December 2019, it sent a letter to the European Commission declaring its commitment, initiating steps to receive the Human Resources Excellence in Research Award (HR Award).

HR Award

The HR Award is an award given by the European Commission to research institutions that implement a human resources strategy for researchers. The individual principles commit the institutions to creating a working environment and setting up an internal culture that helps to build the European Research Area, creates space for the professional and career development of researchers and ensures transparent recruitment procedures. It sets out clear standards that researchers can expect from the institution that employs them, as well as the commitments and responsibilities of the researchers themselves.

Human resources strategy for researchers

The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers also known as HRS4R) is a mechanism through which the European Commission (EC) seeks to ensure that institutions take concrete steps to improve working conditions for researchers across Europe.

Reasons for implementing HRS4R for FNUSA-ICRC

Better chances of obtaining funding for research from European and domestic programs to support research – benefits in the HORIZON 2020, TAČR, GAČR and other programs
Increasing international prestige and attractiveness
Improving the quality of care for human resources
Support of internal processes
The impetus for changes in inner culture
Connection with the pan-European network of research organizations

Benefits of HRS4R implementation for the researchers themselves

Creating the conditions for a more attractive career in research and development
Ensuring transparent recruitment and selection of new researchers
Professional development and retention of the best employees
Meeting the needs of researchers

Contact persons

Mgr. Silvia Vašulková – Senior HR Specialist

PROJECT SCHEDULE

PHASE – Initiation – year 2020

Stakeholder involvement (Supervisory Board, working groups, researchers)
Setting up working groups
Collecting data for GAP analysis, especially through a questionnaire survey, focus groups and in-depth interviews
Analysis of the current situation in FNUSA-ICRC in connection with the fulfillment of the principles stated in the Charter and the Code (GAP Analysis)
Preparation of the Action Plan according to the findings resulting from the GAP analysis (closing individual gaps to the principles set out in the Charter and the Code)
Submission of all documents that will be sent to the European Commission to the Supervisory Board
Sending the GAP Analysis, Action Plan and other documents to the European Commission

Acquiring the HR Excellence in Research award – May 2021

PHASE – Implementation – since 2021

Implementation of individual actions listed in the Action Plan (each of the actions has a set deadline, responsible person or department and indicators, according to which it will be possible to evaluate whether and how successfully the action was fulfilled)

24 months after receiving the HR Award (in 2023): Internal evaluation, evaluation of the original Action Plan and its revision

After another 3 years of implementation of the Action Plan (preliminary in 2026): External evaluation by the European Commission (Site visit)

Implementation Summary (May 2023)

In the first two years of the implementation of the Action Plan, we have made many positive changes and steps to improve working conditions for the staff at the ICRC. The dynamic environment of our research organization, which came under the new leadership of Prof. Irena Rektova, MD, during the pandemic and became a joint department of FNUSA and the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University, also influenced us to embark on other, originally unplanned tasks. We have updated our Action Plan for the period 2023–2026.

A brief summary of the deliverables:

OTM-R Recruitment Policy
E-tool for recruitment management and monitoring of selection procedures
Employment of foreigners – website for foreign applicants
Employment of foreigners – overview of steps for managers and guidelines for HR
Science popularisation – engaging in public events, organising public lectures with invited foreign scientists, ICRC Academy
Communication strategy
Internationalisation strategy
Ethics and Research Integrity – as part of the Code of Ethics and e-learning
Research team life cycle
Evaluation of research teams
Gender Audit and Gender Equality Plan
Analysis of equality and fairness in gender pay at the ICRC (Logib)
New Careers section on the ICRC website
Catalogue of positions
Implementation of the new attendance system
Implementation of the new project management tool
Implementation of the new quality management system
Translation of more than 100 internal documents into English
English courses for all employees
Trained more than 7000 man-hours in Grant application writing and submission, Data and human samples protection, Science popularization, Equality policy, Lab leadership, Ethics of supervisor – subordinate relationship, Quality management, Employment of foreigners, etc.

To set up and maintain strategic human resources management International Center for Clinical Research University Hospital at St. Anny in Brno, in accordance with the conditions for obtaining the European Commission’s HR Award, prepared the project “Implementation of the HR AWARD standard in FNUSA-ICRC” within the Operational Program Research, Development and Education, which was successfully approved by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

Supported by the European Regional Development Fund – project Implementation of the HR AWARD standard in FNUSA-ICRC (reg. No. CZ.02.2.69 / 0.0 / 0.0 / 18_054 / 0014678).

contact

ICRC is a joint workplace of St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno and the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University.