The University of Warsaw is in the renewal phase of the HR Excellence in Research. The European Commission’s team of experts visited the UW on 24th October. The assessors met representatives of the university community, as well as presented an initial evaluation of the undertaken actions at the University of Warsaw.

The principles set in the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter and Code) are key issues for the UW as it is duly emphasised in the Statute of the University of Warsaw. The principles are actually strictly connected with the long-term strategy of the UW, which aims to strengthen the university’s international position.

In February 2022, to renew the HR Excellence in Research award, the University of Warsaw submitted the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) to the European Commission. The documents also included the Gap Analysis, the Internal Review, the Action Plan for 2022-2027, and the OTM-R Questionnaire.

The review for the award renewal

The evaluation of the HR Excellence in Research renewal form is performed by the European Commission’s experts. Due to the meetings with the University authorities, researchers, doctoral candidates and administration, the assessors evaluate the quality of the progress, strengths and weaknesses of the HR strategy, the university’s actions to ensure the Charter and Code’s principles are respected in ethics, equality, working conditions, development, training and mobility.

The EC assessors’ visit creates an opportunity to present the university’s work and achievements, as well as to receive a feedback from external experts.

On 24th October, the European Commission’s experts attended a meeting with UW employees: doctoral candidates, doctors and professors to discuss their scientific development possibilities, mobility experiences and the UW as a proper place of work. The visitors were also talking to directors of doctoral schools about conditions of research work and support to doctoral candidates, and to representatives of the International Relations Office and the Office for International Research and Liaison about internationalisation. Further meetings included UW representatives in antidiscrimination and antimobbing actions: an ombudsman, a member of the Rector’s Committee for Preventing Discrimination and the Equality Group.

During the visit the Steering Committee and the Working Group for the Implementation of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers presented the actions that had been undertaken to implement the HR Excellence in Research strategy and plans for upcoming years.

Finally, the experts presented an initial analysis of the UW actions as well as recommendations.

An official decision by the European Commission on acknowledging the HR Excellence in Research award is due in a couple of weeks.