HR European Strategy for Researchers

The Centre for Polymer and Carbon Materials of the Polish Academy of Sciences (CMPW PAN) received for the HR Excellence in Research award on August 17, 2023, which is granted by the European Commission to institutions implementing The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers - HRS4R.

This strategy is based on the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (hereinafter referred to as the Charter and the Code). These documents contain regulations on the rights and obligations to which both scientists and their employing institutions as well as organizations providing research funding are subjected. They also describe the rules for recruiting researchers that employers should follow to ensure equal treatment of researchers in Europe.

On September 23, 2022, prof. Barbara Trzebicka, Director of the Centre for Polymer and Carbon Materials of the Polish Academy of Sciences, signed a commitment letter, expressing the will to adopt the provisions of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers in the procedures of the Institute's operation and to receive the right to use the HR Excellence in Research award.

Both the employees and the management of CMPW PAN fully support the implementation of the principles of the Charter and the Code at CMPW PAN. The introduction of the provisions of the Charter and the Code, by creating an atmosphere conducive to research work and providing scientists with stable working conditions at every stage of their career path, will contribute to strengthening the innovativeness and competitiveness of research conducted at the Institute. In addition, obtaining the HR Excellence award will undoubtedly be a decisive factor for a significant increase in the attractiveness of CMPW PAN for current and potential researchers.

As part of the implementation of the principles of the Charter and the Code, in mid-2021, prof. Barbara Trzebicka appointed a Working Group, which included employees of the Institute representing scientists (representation of employees of all laboratories), management (Deputy Director for Research) and administration (Scientific Secretariat). The task of the Working Group was to analyze the national and institutional legal provisions and operating principles applicable at CMPW PAN affecting the HR sphere and their correlation with the principles of the European Charter and Code. Then, the Working Group conducted an anonymous survey among the employees of the Institute and prepared a report containing a plan of corrective actions aimed at improving the areas identified in the survey as not fully compliant with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code. The report approved by the Director of the Centre was sent to the European Commission on January 17, 2022.

HR Excellence website: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/hrs4r