The Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences has successfully defended its prestigious HR Excellence in Research award, which it has held since April 2019. The Institute defended this award at the highest possible level, in the form of an extension without any additional conditions and without the need for any mandatory corrective measures.
The defense process also included a personal visit by European Commission evaluators to the FZU. During the visit, they conducted interviews with 40 scientists with the aim of obtaining open and authentic feedback on the development that the FZU has undergone over the past six years.
The European Commission evaluators particularly highlighted the high level of human resources strategy and the effective application of the principles of open and transparent recruitment of new employees. They also appreciated the functional model of HR partnering, in which each section has its own specialized HR partner. This approach promotes better communication, consistent application of HR policies, and targeted, individually oriented HR support.
Representatives of the European Commission also praised the excellent working conditions, progress in the area of internationalization and inclusion, the well-developed process of adapting new employees, and the effective administrative and technical support provided to researchers. The evaluators also noted the public outreach activities that increase the visibility of science and its importance to society.
FZU Director Michael Prouza said of the successful defense of the HR Award: “I greatly appreciate that we have successfully defended the HR Excellence in Research award, which is very important to us. It has confirmed that we are on the right track in the area of human resources and that we can fully compare ourselves with leading research organizations in Europe in this regard. I admire the work of the evaluators, who on the one hand were generous with their praise, but on the other hand sensitively identified several areas where we should continue to work in the coming years to reach an even higher level.”
The HR Excellence in Research Award is granted by the European Commission to institutions that comply with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers. This key document defines the basic principles and values for supporting and developing scientific work. Its goal is to create fair and motivating working conditions and environments, improve the quality of research, facilitate international mobility, and strengthen the attractiveness of scientific careers in Europe.
The European Charter focuses on four basic areas:
- ethics, integrity, gender, and open science
- evaluation, recruitment, and career advancement of researchers
- working conditions and procedures
- careers in research and talent development
Currently, 746 organizations from around the world hold the HR Excellence in Research Award, 61 of which are in the Czech Republic. The Institute of Physics was among the first institutions in the Czech Republic to receive this award, thus confirming its long-standing leading position in human resource management in science and research.