Updates

You can view ALL iterations of the action plan along with the two, four and six year reports on the HR excellence in research documents page.  

A UK-wide process which incorporates the QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, enables institutions to earn the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research award. 

This acknowledges alignment with the:

• Principles of the European Charter for Researchers;

• Code of Conduct for their Recruitment.

A document demonstrating the implementation of the Concordat, is required from the University. The concordat has been agreed and signed by a number of bodies, including University Research Councils and Universities UK.

The Concordat focuses on researchers employed by HEIs on fixed term (or similar) contracts and funded through research grants or analogue schemes.  It aims to set the standards and conditions of employment for these researchers.  It is a benchmark reference point for good practice, across the UK Higher Education sector.

The 2008 Concordat was focused around 7 principles. The new 2019 Concordat is focused around the following three themes.

1. Environment and culture, 

2. Employment, and 

3. Professional and career development.

The principles are underpinned by obligations for the four key stakeholder groups, to realise the aims of the Concordat.

1. Funders,

2. Institutions, 

3. Researchers and 

4. Managers of researchers

The University is now in a transition phase following the introduction of the new Concordat and more information will follow in due course.

The University of St Andrews has demonstrated it has upheld the 7 principles of the 2008 Concordat since 2012 through a process of internal and external review. This gives the University the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo on university materials and the website.

Any changes to the process due to the implementation of the 2019 Concordat will be followed.

An 'HR Excellence' working group was created in 2011 and has been meeting regularly to progress the implementation of the Concordat. The current working group comprises of: 

• Academic Lead: Vice-Principal Research and Innovation

• Head of Organisational and Staff Development (Chair)

• Director of Research and Innovation Services

• Head of Research Policy

• Human Resources Business Partner

• Equality & Diversity Officer

• Planning Manager

• Careers Centre (Advisor)

• Staff Developer (Research Staff)

• Staff Developer (Academic Staff)

• Educational & Postgraduate Researcher Development

• Post Grad Reps

• Post Doc Reps

The European Commission are increasingly building in references to the ‘European Charter and Code’ for funding criteria. The ‘HR Excellence in Research' award demonstrates to funders our institutional commitment to meeting the principles of the ‘European Charter and Code’.

For further details please view: Fairness=Funding Process (PDF, 428 KB)

Or visit    https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/fairnessfunding/

Careers in Research Online Survey (CROS)

Gathers data regarding working conditions, career aspirations and career development opportunities for research staff in UK Higher Education.

Principal Investigators & Research Leaders Survey (PIRLS)

Aims to capture activities and attitudes in relation to research leadership, the management of research staff and the supervision of PGRs.

Further details ...

For further details on both the CROS and PIRLS survey, please visit the dedicated page: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/staff/research/professionaldevelopment/hrexcellence/crospirls/

CROS and PIRLS has now been replaced by the Culture, Employment and Development in Academic Research Survey – CEDARS. CEDARS integrates key questions from the previous CROS and PIRLS surveys and will gather anonymous data about working conditions, career aspirations of and career development opportunities for researchers, and managers of researchers.