The support for career development (formerly ERA action 4) is extremely important for VTT. We also see that the national coordination is important to ensure that the views of Finnish researchers in companies, research institutes and universities are taken into consideration. We had reservations on the previous outcome of the ERA action 4, namely the new framework on research careers to be adopted by the end of the year . Overall, the goals of the new European framework for research careers are excellent, i.e. to promote the research profession and facilitate trans-national and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers including outside of academia. However, in practice, the final recommendations are based on the universities’ model and poorly reflect the career structures and progression in research institutes, like VTT, and in companies. The biggest concern is whether from the ERA action a rigid framework will become mandatory in EU or national projects. Therefore, the proposed co-created guidelines based on the new framework should better include researchers outside academia and be explicitly considered voluntary. Employers of researchers should be left free to find their own processes to achieve fair and transparent recruitment and appraisal procedure as well as a positive working environment for them, in accordance with national employment laws and policies. Such processes should of course be open to scrutiny and development as indicated with the HSR4R certification for HR excellence in research that was already awarded to VTT in 2018. We also hope that the critical issue concerning the excessive administrative burden on international mobility caused to EU directives, e.g. for business travels and staff exchanges or secondments is addressed in the next period. This issue has been raised also at European level, see EARTO Position Paper on Current Hurdles to Mobility of Researchers.
University of Oulu supports this new phase of ERA Action 4 aiming to implement the necessary reforms and framework for making research careers in Europe attractive and sustainable.
The University of Oulu adheres to the current EU reference framework, implements it with the HRS4R tools and has received HR excellence in research quality label. We see a need to set the ambition high but underline that the implementation of the ”Council Recommendations on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe” requires adequate conditions and resources which the proposed ERA Action would support.
We invest in doctoral and researcher training as well as increasing the number of international staff and attracting global talents to Finland, e.g. through the actions of the national Talent Boost program to members. However, organisations cannot overcome the challenge alone. To remain globally competitive, EU and member state level investments are also needed to overcome the barriers, increase the attractiveness of researcher careers and opportunities for the mobility of researchers. EU added value can be achieved through the implementation of the common framework, and pooling of resources for collaboration and incentives for the reforms. The implementation of this Action should be tightly linked with the Action on Research Assessment.
Hanken is committed to support ERA4, and has HRS4R. We are in Finnish standards a highly international business school, but to secure that we can attract best talents also in the future, it is pivotal that both the EU and member states work together to ease the mobility of researchers to EU counties. European like tenure track model and related funding mechanisms sound like a good opportunity but there remains open questions especially concerning the latter point. In the Finnish context, an attractive researcher career entails at least according to one inquiry that early career researchers would have longer contracts. This, however, is tied often to university funding or funding of single projects. A European recommendation for tenure track model maybe welcome but the solutions for sustainable careers will be probably made in the national context. University alliances may come up with joint faculty positions.
11. joulukuuta 2023 kello 15.14.28. Kommentti poistettu.
Concrete steps to support of research careers inside and outside of academia equally
@lula_rosso_vtt
11. joulukuuta 2023 kello 15.39.04
The support for career development (formerly ERA action 4) is extremely important for VTT. We also see that the national coordination is important to ensure that the views of Finnish researchers in companies, research institutes and universities are taken into consideration. We had reservations on the previous outcome of the ERA action 4, namely the new framework on research careers to be adopted by the end of the year .
Overall, the goals of the new European framework for research careers are excellent, i.e. to promote the research profession and facilitate trans-national and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers including outside of academia. However, in practice, the final recommendations are based on the universities’ model and poorly reflect the career structures and progression in research institutes, like VTT, and in companies.
The biggest concern is whether from the ERA action a rigid framework will become mandatory in EU or national projects. Therefore, the proposed co-created guidelines based on the new framework should better include researchers outside academia and be explicitly considered voluntary. Employers of researchers should be left free to find their own processes to achieve fair and transparent recruitment and appraisal procedure as well as a positive working environment for them, in accordance with national employment laws and policies. Such processes should of course be open to scrutiny and development as indicated with the HSR4R certification for HR excellence in research that was already awarded to VTT in 2018.
We also hope that the critical issue concerning the excessive administrative burden on international mobility caused to EU directives, e.g. for business travels and staff exchanges or secondments is addressed in the next period. This issue has been raised also at European level, see EARTO Position Paper on Current Hurdles to Mobility of Researchers.
Oulun yliopiston kommentti
Janika Luukinen
26. tammikuuta 2024 kello 13.31.47
University of Oulu supports this new phase of ERA Action 4 aiming to implement the necessary reforms and framework for making research careers in Europe attractive and sustainable.
The University of Oulu adheres to the current EU reference framework, implements it with the HRS4R tools and has received HR excellence in research quality label. We see a need to set the ambition high but underline that the implementation of the ”Council Recommendations on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe” requires adequate conditions and resources which the proposed ERA Action would support.
We invest in doctoral and researcher training as well as increasing the number of international staff and attracting global talents to Finland, e.g. through the actions of the national Talent Boost program to members. However, organisations cannot overcome the challenge alone. To remain globally competitive, EU and member state level investments are also needed to overcome the barriers, increase the attractiveness of researcher careers and opportunities for the mobility of researchers. EU added value can be achieved through the implementation of the common framework, and pooling of resources for collaboration and incentives for the reforms. The implementation of this Action should be tightly linked with the Action on Research Assessment.
Hankenin kommentti
Sirpa Aalto/Hanken School of Economics
30. tammikuuta 2024 kello 8.42.33
Hanken is committed to support ERA4, and has HRS4R. We are in Finnish standards a highly international business school, but to secure that we can attract best talents also in the future, it is pivotal that both the EU and member states work together to ease the mobility of researchers to EU counties. European like tenure track model and related funding mechanisms sound like a good opportunity but there remains open questions especially concerning the latter point. In the Finnish context, an attractive researcher career entails at least according to one inquiry that early career researchers would have longer contracts. This, however, is tied often to university funding or funding of single projects. A European recommendation for tenure track model maybe welcome but the solutions for sustainable careers will be probably made in the national context. University alliances may come up with joint faculty positions.