Politecnico awarded with distinction by the European Commission for HR Excellence in Research Award

Politecnico is a good practice example at European level for the quality of its research environment and the measures put in place to support the activities and careers of its researchers. While reconfirming the HR Excellence in Research Award, assigned in 2013, the European Commission has expressed great appreciation for how Politecnico has been ensuring concrete implementation of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Last 14 April, Politecnico received the evaluation visit of 3 experts of the European Commission for the reconfirmation of the Award, which took place remotely due to the Covid-19 emergency. During the whole day, the assessors met and interviewed online more than 60 members of the Politecnico community, including researchers, administrative staff and institutional representatives.

The assessors reviewed more than 70 actions, which have been carried out since 2013 and identified through a co-creation process. This process involves primarily researchers, as the main beneficiaries of this initiative, from those taking their first steps in research, such as PhD candidates, to full professors. To mention just a few of the results, our University has been the first in Italy to appoint a Researcher Ombudsman, set up a Research Ethics Committee and approved a Research Integrity Regulation; numerous measures have been taken to support the attraction of research funding, as well as measures on welfare, gender equality and the inclusion and enhancement of diversity. Our University also stands out for the transparency of its selection processes, which are open, rigorous and based on meritocratic criteria.

Politecnico received the Award with the compliments of the assessors, who were particularly enthusiastic about the University's work:

"PoliTO is highly committed to the HRS4R (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers) process and their Action Plan is strongly embedded in their Strategic Plan. Researchers as well as administrative staff are really involved and partners for the institutional development. Their contribution to the implementation of the HRS4R process is evident. The whole approach of PoliTO towards HRS4R is admirable. Any issues which have been praised during this assessment are actually models of good practice".

"I am particularly proud" - comments Rector Guido Saracco - "that the assessors wanted to emphasise that an uncommon sense of belonging emerged from all the interviews, our feeling of being a community that shares and pursues high principles and values together with the ambition to have an impact on society”.

The Vice-Rector for Quality, Welfare and Equal Opportunities, Professor Claudia De Giorgi, institutional contact person for the initiative with the support of the Research Support Department, adds: "The European Charter for Researchers is a document of the highest value and the HRS4R process, which promotes the implementation of the principles at universities, has strengthened the implementation of the University Action Plan on the quality of a 360-degree research environment. Thanks to the collaboration of the whole community involved in the process, we have obtained great appreciation and valuable advice for further steps forward. We will use the suggestions to further improve the process and build on the good things we are already doing”.