HR Excellence in Research – The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers at the University of Padua

The European Charter for Researchers

Since 2014, the University of Padua has been developing and implementing three-year Action Plans in order to fulfil the principles established by the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (C&C). As a consequence of the University's commitment in adopting policies which aim at supporting research staff, Unipd has been awarded the "HR Excellence in Research" award.

The Charter and the Code

The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their Recruitment are complementary documents, addressing all researchers in the European Union, and containing a set of general principles and recommendations which specify the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers as well as of employers and/or funders of researchers.

The Charter aims to promote mobility, improve working conditions and working environment, encourage the process of professional development and recognition of the profession, and consolidate the adoption of good practices in research support services.

The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers is a set of principles that aim to improve the recruitment processes and promote make fairer and more transparent selection procedures. It also encourages the adoption of different means of judging merit.

HR Excellence in Research at UNIPD

As a research institution accredited by the European Commission with the recognition of the HR Excellence in Research award, the University of Padua has completed the implementation of the 2017-2019 Action Plan, extended to 2020, and is now committed to the implementation of the 2021-2023 Action Plan. The current Plan is made up of 46 actions based on the principles of the Charter and the Code
See the summary of the 2021-23 Plan.

The key initiatives concern, among the others, the following principles: career development, access to research training and continuous development, access to career advice, value of mobility, evaluation/appraisal systems, public engagement, working conditions, funding and salaries, participation in decision-making bodies, recruitment, judging merit, recognition of the profession and non-discrimination.

HR Resources

International Research Office

via Martiri della libertà 8, 35137 Padova, Italy
tel. +39 049.827 1940 / 1945
fax +39 049.827 1911
hrs4r@unipd.it