SDU has applied for the EU HR Excellence in Research certification
On 30 January 2025, the University of Southern Denmark applied to the European Commission for the HR Excellence in Research certification. The effort underlines SDU’s commitment to creating attractive working conditions and career development opportunities for researchers, and the certifi-cation will strengthen research applications, particularly in EU contexts.
HR Excellence in Research
SDU’s commitment to HR Excellence in Research can already be used in connection with research appli-cations with the following description: SDU is in the initial phase of achieving recognition from the Europe-an Commission for SDU’s work to promote good working conditions and career development for research-ers by complying with The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers.
- HR Excellence in Research will strengthen SDU’s focus on inspiring and excellent university frameworks that clearly support talent development and promote outstanding environments. The work with HR Excel-lence provides a framework for tackling this task in collaboration between SDU’s researchers, educators, leaders, and technical-administrative staff," says SDU’s Rector, Jens Ringsmose.
The stamp of quality for an attractive research environment
The certification will show that SDU supports attractive research environments and good working condi-tions for researchers with:
- Transparent policies, procedures and support to ensure high research integrity and ethics
- Open, transparent and merit-based recruitment
- Transparent career paths and career guidance
- Relevant and navigable opportunities for skills development.
- The HR Excellence process supports research efforts at SDU to increase funding and and is a great ex-ample of how SDU HR supports research at SDU on the collaborative efforts to succeed with the strategy’, says Head of SDU Climate Cluster, Sebastian H. Mernild.
Fifteen initiatives to strengthen SDU’s research environment and career opportunities
As part of the strategic effort to achieve the ‘HR Excellence in Research’ certification, the Executive Board has approved SDU’s first HR Excellence action plan.
The action plan is based on a GAP analysis of SDU’s current working conditions for researchers in relation to the EU Charter and Code: in which areas is SDU already strong and in which areas do we as a universi-ty want to increase our efforts?
The GAP analysis and the action plan are the results of an inclusive process with the active participation of heads of research and researchers at all levels and faculties, technical-administrative staff, lecturers, un-ion representatives for academic staff at SDU and the University’s top management.
In dialogue and interaction with the organisation, the ongoing work is particularly focused on 15 initiatives within the four areas: Research integrity and ethics, recruitment, working conditions and skills develop-ment.
SDU is expected to be notified of the award of the certification in the summer of 2025. The initiatives in the HR Excellence action plan will be developed and implemented during the period 2025–2026, after which SDU will revise the action plan.
Follow SDU’s work with HR Excellence in Research
Read SDU’s HR Excellence in Research application here: https://www.sdu.dk/en/om-sdu/job-sdu/hrexcellence
If you have any questions about or input in relation to the work with the certification, please don’t hesitate to contact Head of Work Environment and Development in SDU HR, Karna Kühnell Gautier: kgautier@sdu.dk