About the Concordat
What is the Concordat?
The Concordat was created in 1996, revised in 2007 and it is signed by a number of bodies, including University Research Councils and Universities UK. The HR Excellence in Research Award demonstrates a commitment to meeting the principles of the European Charter and Code.
A UK-wide process enables UK HEIs to gain the European Commission's 'HR Excellence in Research' badge, which acknowledges their alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Researchers
The UK process incorporates the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers to enable institutions that have published Concordat implementation plans to gain the "HR excellence in Research" badge. The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers is an agreement between funders and employers of research staff to improve the employment and support of researchers and research careers in the UK higher education. It sets out clear standards that research staff can expect from the institution that employs them, as well as their responsibilities as researchers. The Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers aims to increase the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK and to improve the quantity, quality and impact of research for the benefit of UK society and the economy.
What are the Principles?
1. Recognition of the importance of recruiting, selecting and retaining researchers with the highest potential to achieve excellence in research.
2. Researchers are recognised and valued by their employing organisation as an essential part of their organisation's human resources and a key component of their overall strategy to develop and deliver world-class research.
3. Researchers are equipped and supported to be adaptable and flexible in an increasingly diverse, mobile, global research environment.
4. The importance of researchers' personal and career development, and lifelong learning, is clearly recognised and promoted at all stages of their career.
5. Individual researchers share the responsibility for and need to pro-actively engage in their own personal and career development, and lifelong learning.
6. Diversity and equality must be promoted in all aspects of the recruitment and career management of researchers.
7. The sector and all stakeholders will undertake regular and collective review of their progress in strengthening the attractiveness and sustainability of research careers in the UK.
