University’s support for researchers recognised

The University of South Wales has retained its European Commission HR Excellence in Research Award, following a two-year self-assessment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award, which was originally granted to the University in 2014, is overseen by Vitae, an international programme led and managed by CRAC. CRAC is a not-for-profit registered UK charity dedicated to active career learning and development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award acknowledges the university’s alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It incorporates both the ‘QAA Quality Code for Higher Education – Chapter B11: Research Degrees’ and the ‘Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers’ to enable institutions that have published Concordat implementation plans to gain the HR Excellence in Research Award. The award includes ongoing national evaluation and benchmarking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Louise Bright, Deputy Director of Research and Business Engagement, said: “The HR Excellence in Research Award process has allowed us to further focus on the career development of our researchers and providing them with ongoing support. We are really pleased to have successfully passed our two year review and will be continuing with our efforts to develop this area further.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The University of South Wales is one of 95 institutions in the UK and 268 in Europe who have achieved the HR Excellence in Research Award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​