The path to defending the HR Award – evaluators from the European Commission will visit USB

On June 2, 2025, the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice will take an important step towards defending the HR Excellence in Research Award (HR Award). As part of the so-called renewal phase, evaluators from the European Commission will visit the university. They will assess the progress made in implementing the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) through action plans. The aim is to fulfill the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers in the areas of ethical and professional aspects, recruitment of new staff, working conditions and social security, as well as education and training. The visit of the evaluators marks a significant milestone in the first cycle of the HRS4R implementation process, which began at the end of 2017, when the university endorsed the principles of the Charter and Code. After fulfilling all eligibility conditions for implementing these principles, the university was awarded the HR Award on July 22, 2019, committing itself to developing the quality of human resources management, transparent and sustainable recruitment conditions (OTM-R), career development for researchers, and the adoption and compliance with the quality standards of the European Research Area.

The outcome of the evaluation will be feedback from experts with experience in assessing research institutions across the European Union and, in the case of a successful defense of the HR Award, progression to the next phase of the entire process.