Gdynia Maritime University GMU

In 2018, Gdynia Maritime University was granted the HR Excellence in Research Award by the European Commission. This distinction is awarded to institutions that implement and apply the principles of the "European Charter for Researchers" and "Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers".

Awarding this distinction is one of the activities of the European Commission as part of the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers which is aimed at increasing the attractiveness of researchers' working conditions in the EU and standardising research procedures. The award the certificate is also a confirmation of the institution's readiness to apply and implement scientific projects on a national and international level.

More information about the benefits of the right to use the HR Excellence in Research disnticntion and the actions taken at our University can be found below.

General Information

In 2005, the European Commission adopted a European Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. These two documents, addressed to researchers as well as research employers and funders in both the public and private sectors, are key elements in the EU's policy to boost researchers' careers.

Research careers in Europe are fragmented at local, regional, national or sectoral level, not allowing Europe to make the most of its scientific potential. The Charter and Code ensures researchers can enjoy the same rights and obligations in any European country.

Awarding the Logo HR Excellence in Research is one of the EU’s activities within the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers, which supports research institutions and funding organisations in the implementation of the Charter and Code in their policies and practices. The concrete implementation of the Charter and Code by research institutions will render them more attractive to researchers looking for a new employer or for a host for their research project. Funding organisations implementing the Charter and Code principles will contribute to the attractiveness of their national research systems and to the attractiveness of the European Research Area more generally. The ‘HR Excellence in Research’ award, attained after a thorough analysis of an institutions HR policies is carried out, will identify the institutions and organisations as providers and supporters of a stimulating and favourable working environment for researchers.

The authorities of GMU bearing in mind the benefits from HR Excellence in Research, took the initiative of introducing the principles of the Charter and Code in our University. 

Letter of Endorsement  European Commission’s acceptance of the University’s declaration: 
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/cc-declarations/Endorsement_Gdynia_PL.pdf 

The European Charter for Researchers

The European Charter for Researchers is a set of general principles and requirements which specifies the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers as well as of employers and/or funders of researchers. The aim of the Charter is to ensure that the nature of the relationship between researchers and employers or funders is conducive to successful performance in generating, transferring, sharing and disseminating knowledge and technological development, and to the career development of researchers. The Charter also recognizes the value of all forms of mobility as means for enhancing the professional development of researchers. In this sense, the Charter constitutes a framework for researchers, employers and funders which invites them to act responsibly and as professionals within their working environment, and to recognise each other as such. The Charter addresses all researchers in the European Union at all stages of their career and covers all fields of research in the public and private sectors, irrespective of the nature of the appointment or employment, the legal status of their employer or the type of organisation or establishment in which the work is carried out. It takes into account the multiple roles of researchers, who are appointed not only to conduct research and/or to carry out development activities but are also involved in supervision, mentoring, management or administrative tasks.

Further information on the Charter: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/european-charter

The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers

The Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers consists of a set of general principles and requirements that should be followed by employers and/or funders when appointing or recruiting researchers. These principles and requirements are complementary to those outlined in the European Charter for Researchers. Institutions and employers adhering to the Code of Conduct will openly demonstrate their commitment to act in a responsible and respectable way and to provide fair framework conditions to researchers, with a clear intention to contribute to the advancement of the European Research Area.

Further information on the Code: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

Benefits from the HR Excellence in Research

• Raising the level of attractiveness of employment at the University, which creates a friendly environment for scientific work and respects transparent principles when recruiting employees;
• Distinction for the University as an institution providing the best possible working conditions in research being in line with the European standards;
• Bonus for the University in:
  • international grant competitions of the European Commission in the European Union Framework Program HORYZONT 2020 in the field of research and innovation;
  • the national grant competitions of the National Science Center and the National Center for Research and Development;
  • competitions and financing programs of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education;

• The National Committee for the Evaluation of Scientific Units in 2017 will assign a number of points to the scientific units' evaluation;
• Right to advertise on the EURAXESS European Research Recruiting Platform.

HR Team

Rector of Gdynia Maritime University had appointed the HR Team, which aims to develop the Strategy for Human Resources for Researchers.

Rector’s ordinance No 30 of 15th Dec. 2016: 
http://bip.am.gdynia.pl/sites/default/files/zalaczniki/30-2016.pdf

The HR Team’s initial activities concerned:

• elaboration of the Team’s work schedule,
• preliminary analysis of the external and internal regulations, procedures and practices of the University, referring to the scope of the Charter and Code regulations,
• development of methodology and survey on the current state of the University’s regulations’ compatibility with the Charter and Code,
• a survey.

Further planned activities:

• Preparation of the Gap Analysis demonstrating the areas requiring GMU’s adaptation of its internal regulations to the requirements of the Charter and the Code,
• Consultations with faculty/departmental researchers regarding the content of the prepared analysis,
• Development of an action strategy, called "HR4R Strategy".

As the above tasks are planned to be completed by the end of 2017, the GMU authorities encourage all the members of the academic community to be actively involved in preparation of the above mentioned documents.

On 15th December 2017 Rector of GMU has appointed a new HR Team which will monitor the implementation of the HR Strategy for Researchers.

Reports

During the works on the HR Strategy for Researchers, the HR Team has developed and conducted between 15.01 and 15.02.2017, a survey among the GMU researchers.

Results of the survey are presented in the Report (in Polish).

During development of the HR Strategy for Researchers, the HR Team has also conducted consultations with representatives of the GMU Doctoral Students. Conclusions of the consultations are available in the Report  (in Polish).

Seminars

As the initiative of the Vice Rector for Science, a meeting with Deans of GMU Faculties and representatives of the HR Department and Legal-Organizational Department was held on 29 November 2017, and it concerned the issues related to the HR Strategy for researchers. More details here.

On 26th June 2017, the HR Team has performed a series of seminars at all four GMU faculties. Presentations concerned the general idea of HR Excellence in Research as well as the activities undertaken in the GMU that lead towards the application for HR Excellence in Research.

HR Strategy for Researchers

Download the HR Strategy for Researchers, Gap Analysis and Action Plan.

Awarding GMU the HR Excellence in Research Logo

On September 14, 2018, the Vice-Rector for Science received information confirming that the GMU's HR Strategy are in line with the requirements for institutions that use the HR Excellence in Research award.

Implementation of planned tasks (legal acts are only available in Polish on the intranet):

Interim Report 

On January 11, 2021, our University received the Assessment Report to the Interim Report submitted in September 2020 referring to the European Commission's award granted to GMU - Logo HR.  The report presents, i.a. all activities that have been taken at GMU to implement the provisions of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

In the opinion of experts, our University mostly carries out appropriate and high-quality activities, and the procedures and regulations currently in use prove that the HR development strategy for researchers is systematically and effectively implemented. In their report, the evaluators also presented possible improvement measures leading to the rationalisation of already achieved results.

It should be noted that in the course of further work in the next three years, maintaining the "HR Excellence in Research" award will require another internal survey among academic teachers and an update of the HR strategy. These activities will be subject to another expert assessment by external international experts in the form of a visit to the university.

A meeting related to the implementation the principles of the "European Charter for Researchers" and "Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers". Photo: M. Zajk

Photos from seminars regarding "European Charter for Researchers" and "Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers", which took place at four faculties of GMU on June 29, 2017. Photo: I. Dudek-Muczyńska