European Charter for Researchers

The European Charter for Researchers sets out common European principles and standards designed to support attractive research careers and promote excellence in research and innovation across Europe. It focuses on researchers’ rights and responsibilities, their employing institutions, research funding institutions, and policymakers responsible for shaping research policy.

Its aim is to create an attractive, open, inclusive and sustainable environment for conducting research and developing talents, thereby supporting high-quality research and innovation.

The Charter addresses the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in the research environment:

• researchers at all stages of their careers;
• universities and other institutions that employ researchers;
• research funding institutions;
• bodies responsible for shaping research policy.

It applies across all disciplines and different types of research activity and is relevant to both the academic and non-academic sectors.

For the University of Lodz, the Charter is one of the key reference points in shaping policies concerning research staff and in implementing the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R).

European standards relating to researchers’ working conditions and career development are not a new concept. In 2005, the European Commission adopted two related documents:

• the European Charter for Researchers;
• the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Collectively referred to as the Charter & Code, these documents comprised 40 principles covering, among other areas, research ethics, academic freedom, professional responsibility, working conditions, employment stability, professional development, mobility, researcher assessment, supervision, and the principles of open, transparent and merit-based recruitment.

The Charter & Code also provided the foundation for the development of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) and the HR Excellence in Research award, granted to institutions that commit themselves to the systematic implementation of these principles.

Why Was the Charter Revised?

Since 2005, the research environment has undergone significant changes. Increasing importance has been placed on areas such as open science, research integrity, diversity and equality, new approaches to researcher assessment, intersectoral mobility, skills development, staff wellbeing, sustainability and the diversity of research career paths.

In response to these developments, on 18 December 2023 the Council of the European Union adopted the Recommendation on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe. One of its key elements is the new European Charter for Researchers.

The new Charter replaced both the 2005 European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Instead of two separate documents and 40 principles, there is now a single, more coherent document comprising 20 key principles grouped into four pillars.

The revision does not represent a departure from the previous values. Rather, it builds upon them and adapts them to the contemporary European research environment.

The Charter is not merely a document setting out values. Its principles should be reflected in the policies and practices adopted by an institution. From the perspective of a researcher at the University of Lodz, this means that the University strives to create an environment in which a researcher:

• is recruited through clear and transparent procedures;
• is treated with respect for equality, diversity and inclusion;
• can conduct research in accordance with the principles of academic freedom and research integrity;
• has access to appropriate working conditions and research infrastructure;
• can develop their skills and competencies at every stage of their careers;
• has access to training, mentoring and professional development support;
• can benefit from national and international mobility opportunities;
• works in an environment that supports Open Science;
• can contribute to shaping their working environment;
• has access to appropriate mechanisms for reporting concerns and resolving conflicts;
• is assessed with due regard to the diversity of their achievements and experience;
• can pursue careers both within and beyond academia.

The Charter defines not only the rights of researchers but also their responsibilities, including adherence to the principles of research ethics and integrity, the responsible conduct of research, continuous professional development, proper management of research results, and sharing of knowledge.

The HR Excellence in Research award supports a university’s competitiveness in securing national and European research funding. The award confirms that the institution implements the standards of the European Charter for Researchers, including those relating to open and transparent recruitment, working conditions and researchers’ career development.

Holding the award strengthens the university's institutional credibility in grant applications and international cooperation. It may provide an advantage in funding calls where HR standards, researchers’ working environment, recruitment policies or career development arrangements are taken into account. It can also enhance the University's attractiveness as a partner in international project consortia. HR Excellence also helps demonstrate that the university's policies are aligned with European standards for the employment and support of researchers, which is increasingly required when applying for certain funding opportunities.

At the University of Lodz, the principles of the European Charter for Researchers are implemented through the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R). The HRS4R enables the university to translate European principles into concrete institutional measures. The process includes:

• assessing compliance with the principles of the Charter (Gap Analysis);
• identifying areas that require further development;
• preparing an Action Plan;
• implementing planned measures;
• monitoring outcomes;
• regularly reviewing and updating adopted solutions.

The HR Excellence in Research award confirms that the University of Lodz participates in this process and is committed to the continuous improvement of HR policies relating to researchers.

The European Charter for Researchers establishes standards relating to researchers’ working environment and career development, while the UL Action Plan sets out the specific actions undertaken by the University of Lodz as part of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R).

The current UL Action Plan was developed within the HRS4R process based on the 40 principles contained in the 2005 European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Consequently, references to the former set of 40 Charter & Code principles remain within the document.

The new European Charter for Researchers continues and further develops the values underpinning the former Charter & Code, organising them into 20 principles grouped within four pillars. The activities undertaken by the UL as part of HRS4R therefore remain part of an ongoing process of improving researchers’ working conditions, career development and recruitment, while taking account of evolving European standards in these areas.

The implementation of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers is also linked to the University of Lodz Strategy 2021–2030. The Charter and the UL Strategy operate at different levels but complement one another. The European Charter for Researchers defines European standards relating to researchers and the research environment. The UL Strategy sets the strategic direction for the development of the UL.

At the same time, the entire process supports the achievement of the objectives of the University of Lodz Strategy 2021–2030, particularly in areas relating to high research quality, staff development, internationalisation, social responsibility, equality and the creation of a modern academic environment. As a result, the HRS4R is not a separate project but an integral part of the broader institutional development of the University.

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HRS4R – Human Resources Strategy for Researchers

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Gap Analysis – Where Are We Now?

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Action Plan – What Are We Doing?

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Implementation and Monitoring of Activities

The transition from the 40 principles of the Charter & Code to the 20 principles of the new European Charter for Researchers does not mean that the process starts anew. The UL continues to implement activities under the HRS4R framework, building on the experience, achievements and solutions developed to date, while the new Charter provides a framework for the further development of policies relating to researchers and their careers.