The European Charter for Researchers is a set of general principles relating to the responsibilities and rights of researchers and the institutions in which they work, considering the creation of a stimulating working environment, favourable to the production, transfer and sharing of knowledge, as well as the professional development of researchers.
The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers establishes the requirements and quality standards that the recruitment process must meet: open, transparent and merit-based.
HR Excellence In Research award is attributed to organisations that, following an internal analysis (Gap Analysis) of compliance with the 40 principles of the Charter & Code, define a set of actions (Action Plan) to improve their practices, a continuous and evolutionary process anchored in the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R). Certified organisations gradually implement the measures set out in the Action Plan, followed by a interim-assessment after 24 months, and then successive renewal cycles valid for 36 months, with on-site visits on alternate cycles.
Currently, 52 Portuguese organisations have endorsed the principles of the Charter & Code, including higher education institutions, research institutes or laboratories; of these, only eight are certified, such as the Champalimaud Foundation, o Gulbenkian Institute of Science or the Institute of Molecular Medicine, none of which are universities.
Iscte is currently preparing the application for certification (Initial Phase), and the following initiatives have already been carried out: