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York retains prestigious award for supporting researchers

York retains prestigious award for supporting researchers

Posted on 5 December 2016

The University of York has been successful in retaining the European Commission (EC) HR Excellence in Research Award at the six year review point.

The award recognises an institution’s commitment to implementing the UK Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers – principles that support all staff employed to conduct research (research fellows, postdocs and Principal Investigators) by promoting recruitment, career enhancement, equality and diversity.

York is one of eight UK Universities to hold the award for six years.

The EC launched the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers in 2005 to set out principles for good working conditions for researchers, followed by the UK Concordat in 2008.

Activities at York in support of the UK Concordat include:

An annual Shared Practice Event for all early career researchers and the Principal Investigators who support them
Careers training and guidance through links with alumni and industry, coaching, and grass root researcher led societies
A research staff newsletter and award-winning ‘Research Leaders’ leadership programme for Principal Investigators

In their feedback about the University of York, the UK judging panel said: “This is a strong submission showing significant progress over the previous two years, with much exceptional practice taking place.”

Karen Clegg, Director of the Research Excellence Training Team (RETT), said: “There is a genuine commitment at York to support researchers and to provide an inclusive environment in which all those engaged in or supporting research are provided with training and professional development opportunities. This external validation of that activity is very rewarding.”

In June 2017, York will run a Research Staff Conference featuring a ‘Falling Walls’ public engagement event - researchers will each explain how their research contributes to the fall of scientific ‘walls’ and boundaries, based around the University’s seven research themes. The winner will represent the University at an international conference in Berlin.