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University retains research award for tenth year

Posted on 12 January 2021

The University of York’s support for researchers has been recognised by the European Commission HR Excellence in Research Award - York is one of just five UK universities to have held and retained the award for a decade.

The award recognises the University’s commitment to supporting the career development of researchers and its implementation of the Researcher Development Concordat. The Concordat outlines the expectations of research organisations, funders, principal investigators (PIs) and researchers against three principles: employment, career development, environment and culture. Signatories of the RD Concordat include UKRI funders, research charities as well as universities.

Action plan

The University’s Researcher Development Concordat consultation process continues and will result in the publication of a final Action Plan 2020 - 2022 in March.

Professor Matthias Ruth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, said: “We are very proud to be among the small number of universities to have retained this award for ten years. It’s a remarkable achievement and is testament to our commitment to the ongoing development and support of our research staff. We value the important work they do and the difference they make. Our aim is to support research staff in their skills and careers - and this award recognises our successful track record for new and established staff.”

Positive research culture

Dr Karen Clegg, head of the University’s Research Excellence Training team and HR Excellence in Research Coordinator, said: “Over the last decade we have collectively developed professional development, leadership training and mentoring programmes for researchers and PIs. The 2020 - 2022 action plan enables us to identify, in collaboration with academics and researchers, what a positive research culture looks and feels like and to make the changes to enable that.”

Find out more about the HR Excellence in Research Awards.