HRS4R – “HR Excellence in Research” label

As the first French university to receive the "HR Excellence in Research" label from the European Commission (EC), the University of Montpellier has been deploying a Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) since 2015, reflecting its commitment to evolving its practices and moving closer to the recommendations of the European Charter for Researchers, adopted in 2005 and revised in 2023, aimed at promoting research careers in Europe. 

HRS4R is a quality initiative based on the principle of continuous improvement, for which the UM has established regular monitoring (with self-assessment and updating of the action plan at mid-term and at the end of the cycle). Awarded for an initial period of five years, the label is renewable in three-year cycles.

A long-term commitment, a guarantee of quality and appeal

For the past 10 years, UM has been implementing an HRS4R excellence strategy that aims to improve career support, ensure open, fair, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R), promote mobility and attractiveness among our research teams, and strengthen working conditions and integration for researchers.

The label is a real asset for securing and developing European funding (Horizon Europe), increasing the UM's visibility on the national and international stage, and enhancing our appeal.

The mid-term self-assessment, carried out in March 2017, had been positively received by the European Commission and led to the revision of the action plan for 2017-2019.

The end-of-cycle self-assessment conducted in 2020, based on collective reflection and cross-departmental work, resulted in an action plan for the period 2020-2023. The elements of the renewal dossier, approved by the Board of Directors on December 14, 2020, were validated by three experts from the European Commission following an evaluation and on-site audit in June 2021. They include:

1. The HRS4R 2020 report 
2. The status of completion of the HRS4R 2017-2019 plan 
3. The UM OTM-R Charter 
4. The revised HRS4R action plan for the period 2020-2023 

A label renewed until 2027

Based on a survey conducted among the UM research community and on cross-departmental work, the end-of-cycle self-assessment carried out in 2023-2024 led to the development of a new action plan for 2024-2027. This action plan is one of the elements of the renewal dossier that was approved by the Board of Directors on November 18, 2024, and submitted to the European Commission for validation. These elements include: 

1. The HRS4R 2024 report 
2. The status of completion of the HRS4R 2020-2023 plan 
3. The updated UM OTM-R Charter 
4. The revised HRS4R action plan for the period 2024-2027 
5. Results of the HRS4R 2024 survey

After evaluating these elements, the European Commission rapporteurs gave a favorable opinion on the request to renew the label for a three-year cycle, i.e. until July 2027.  

On the agenda

The 44 objectives of the current plan are divided into four pillars and include actions on:

• Pillar 1 – Ethics, integrity, gender, and open science :
  • promoting research through the creation of a "Research Directory & Skills Map" (Action 1)
  • Use of the ORCID number as a unique identifier (Action 3)
  •  the creation of a UM-FULBRIGHT partnership for cross-mobility of scientists (Action 12)
  • Numerous actions promoting gender equality, preventing gender-based and sexual violence, and promoting inclusion (Actions 5-6-7-8-9-10-11)
• Pillar 2 –Evaluation, recruitment, and career advancement of researchers :
  • the implementation of an HR master plan (Actions 13)
  • Simplification and internationalization of the recruitment process for teachers, Professors researchers (Actions 14-15-16-17)
  • the rollout of attractiveness programs (Actions 19-20)
• Pillar 3 –Working conditions and methodsl:
  • Facilitating innovation through a single portal for Professors researchers and dedicated IT tools (Actions 24-25-26-27-28)
  • Improving quality of life at work and preventing psychosocial risks (Actions 33-34-35)
  • the internationalization of the induction phase for foreign recruits at UM and the assignment process (Actions 38-39-40-41)
• Pillar 4 –Scientific careers and talent development :
  • offer specific training courses for Professors researchers, such as English classes
  • support in developing a personalized career plan (Actions 43-44-45)