The URJC obtains the European seal of quality 'HRS4R'

This distinction recognizes the work of the Rey Juan Carlos University as promoter and architect of the development of an attractive European labor market for researchers. It thus becomes one of the 544 organizations that hold it throughout Europe.

Christian Lopez Manzano

On July 28, 2020, the European Commission awarded the international quality seal “Human Resources Excellence in Research” (HRS4R) at the University of Rey Juan Carlos. This recognition highlights the effort and commitment of the institution to generate and support the development of a stimulating and favorable environment for research work in the European context.

This seal of quality is located within the framework of the initiative 'Human Resources Strategy for Researchers' (HRS4R) led by the European Commission with the aim of supporting universities and research institutions in hiring researchers to contribute to the development of an attractive European labor market for them. The institutions that obtain this seal undertake to promote transparency, accessibility, fairness and excellence in all calls for scientific employment.

"Obtaining this distinction will mark a before and after in how the URJC considers research and it will be a complete structural change" comments Rosa Mª Mesa Vélez, head of service at the Office of European Projects (OPE) who points out that this "will raise the relevance and visibility of the research work of the URJC at an international level”. This seal will also "improve the representativeness of the University in addition to increasing the attraction of research talent from the institution", indicates Rosa Mª Mesa Vélez.

Obtaining the seal culminates the initial phase of the process established by the European Commission, initiated at the Rey Juan Carlos University in 2018, which includes adherence to the principles described in the "European Charter for Researchers" and the "Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers.

In this initial phase, the Rey Juan Carlos University will launch a Action plan which must be implemented within a period of five years with an intermediate evaluation in July 2022 to revalidate obtaining the 'HRS4R' seal.

The Rey Juan Carlos University thus becomes one of the 544 European institutions to obtain this distinction, whose obtaining represents a further step towards the internationalization of research and the promotion of attracting talent.