HR Excellence in Research Award

The University of Warwick has held the HR Excellence in Research Award since 2012.

The Vitae HR Excellence in Research award recognises the effective implementation of the 'European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers' and is mapped to the Principles of the 'Researcher Development Concordat'.

Institutions that achieve the award demonstrate a long-term commitment to:

Creating supportive working conditions for researchers.
Enhancing researcher professional and career development.
Promoting inclusive research environments.
Fostering open, transparent recruitment, promotion and progression processes.

The University has been successful in retaining the award since 2012, during which time we have improved and enhanced existing policies and activities as well as introduced new initiatives for research staff, research students, and technicians, improving the research environment and culture and enhancing career development provision and opportunities.

Work on the action/implementation plan is part of the University's research culture work. Research culture is a key priority of our Research Strategy. Find out more about Research Culture at Warwick.

The University has retained the HR Excellence in Research Award after our 10 year review.

Organisations that hold the HR Excellence in Research Award are required to undertake an assessment of their progress in achieving the actions / outcomes set out in their action / implementation plan every two years.

Below you can find the University's assessment reports and action plans:

Ten Year review Eight year review Six year review

This review involved an internal self-assessment of progress against achieving the actions/outcomes set out in the four year action plan that was submitted as part of the successful four year review. A three page report covers:

How the internal evaluation was undertaken (including how researcher's views were taken into account during the review and, where relevant, how the review links with existing QA and other implementation/monitoring mechanisms).
Details of key achievements and the progress against the strategy, indicators, and actions identified in the original action plan.
Outline next steps and the focus of the strategy for the next two years, including success measures.

In addition to the report, there was a requirement to update the four year action plan (Appendix 1) with progress made and also provide a new plan (Appendix 2), including actions, accountability, and timeframes to cover the next two year period.

These documents can be found below:

Four year review

Warwick was successful in retaining the HE Excellence in Research award in June 2017, after submitting documents for a four year review on progress against actions planned on the two year review action plan:

Two year review

In January 2015, the University produced a two year report, an updated action plan on progress, and a new action plan moving forward:

A UK-wide process, incorporating the QAA UK Quality Code for Higher Education, Chapter B11: Research Degrees and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, enables institutions to gain the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research Award, acknowledging alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. The UK approach includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking.

First submission

Read the Social Inclusion Annual Report for more about social inclusion at Warwick and the action we're taking.

The Social Inclusion Annual Report highlights the work that has been taking place across the University over the last year, and how it is helping us to meet our Social Inclusion Strategy objectives to increase the diversity of our staff and student communities, develop an inclusive culture, and become an internationally recognised leader in inclusion.