HR Excellence in Research

A UK-wide process, incorporating the QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, enables institutions to gain the European Commission’s ‘HR excellence in research’ badge, acknowledging alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment.

Updates

November 2022

The University is pleased to announce that we have retained the prestigious HR Excellence in Research Award (HREiR) at our 10 year review.

The HREiR award has been retained in recognition of our alignment to the Concordat for the Career Development of Researchers 2019 and commitment to meeting its principles. The HREiR principles are documented in the Concordat which the University signed in April 2021 and our Concordat Action Plan published in April 2022.

The UK wide award process requires an institution to engage with researchers and other stakeholders, to reflect on practice and support of researchers, and to identify specific actions to enhance the experience and career progression of these researchers.  

The University's report on its achievements over the period January 2020 to June 2022 and action plan for the period to 2025 can be downloaded from the right hand side of this page.

September 2022

The University has applied to retain its HREiR accreditation as part of our 10 year external review.  The HREiR progress report for 2020 – 2022 and the HREiR action plan for 2022 -25 can be downloaded from the right hand side of this page.

June 2020

The University has successfully retained the HR Excellence in Research accreditation following its 8-year external review.  The review documentation and an action plan for the period 2020-2022  can be downloaded from the right hand side of the page together with the external reviewers report.

Spring 2018

In Spring 2018 the HREIR award was successfully retained after a process of internal review. The reviewers made particular reference to the progress made against our previous action plan and noted our forward looking actions for the coming period. Our next review is due in 2020.

The University's report on its achievements over the period 2016-2018 and action plan for the period to 2020 can be downloaded from ‘Documents’ on the right hand side of this page.

The University has held the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award since January 2012. The award recognises the systems and practices we have in place to support researchers’ career and professional development in line with the national Research Concordat (which we are implementing via the University’s Code of Practice for the Employment and Career Development of Research Staff).

Spring 2016

In Spring 2016 the award was successfully retained after a process of external review. The reviewers particular commended the significant achievements made over the full review period (2012-2016), the excellent array of staff development on offer, the widespread use of PDR and the transparency of the University’s HR policies as published on the HR Support website.

Through the work undertaken to gain the award the University has demonstrated commitment to improving the working conditions and career development for research staff. We will continue to work across departments, divisions, and with researchers themselves to achieve these aims and ensure that research staff have the best possible experience of working at Oxford.

All documents relating to the scheme, including action plans and internal and external review documentations can be downloaded from ‘Documents’ on the right hand side of this page

The HR Excellence in Research Logo

The University displays the HR Excellence logo across our websites. Departments are encouraged to display the logo, and/or refer to the award, as evidence of the University’s commitment to supporting its researchers. It should be used in grant applications and on web pages and other materials for current and prospective research staff.

Download the logo

More information on the award is available from the Vitae website.