HR Excellence in Research

University of Maribor is the first Slovenian university to earn the recognition of the European Commission for human resources strategy for researchers. The university also gained the permission to use the “HR Excellence in Research” logo.

The "HR Excellence in Research" recognition publicly acknowledges institutions that perform high quality policies related to human resources. Institutions, permitted to publicly use the logo, in that way stress their commitment to excersise rightful and transparent procedures of employing and evaluating their researchers.

University of Maribor supports the efforts of the European Commission to form a united research space, uniform labour market for researchers, to encourage mobility and better working conditions for researchers.

January 2019

University of Maribor retains HR Excellence in Research award

University of Maribor retained the HR Excellence in Research award for its progress in implementing the 40 principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers through human resources policy, strategy and action plan.  The prize is awarded by the European Commission. With carefully selected assessors it continuously controls the progress of the implementation of principles through the mentioned strategic documents. This control is carried out by means of transparently published documents on websites and their practical implementation in form of assessors' visits in research organisations or at universities. 

The University of Maribor is the first Slovene university that achieved the award in 2010 and successfully passed the external evaluation as early as 2014. The European Commission verifies the eligibility of the granted recognition with periodical visits of selected assessors. The University of Maribor is among 445 institutions in Europe that have already achieved and retained the HR Excellence in Research award.

On this occasion, vice-rector for Quality, Human Resources and Legal Affairs, prof. dr. Janja Hojnik, said:

˝The European Commission assessors have evaluated our achievements so far and existing activities in the field of human resources, especially in relation to researchers, as impressive. They commended the adoption of all necessary documents for the implementation of the European Charter and Code of Conduct for Researchers during the mandate of the previous Rector as well as the activities of the current leadership towards changing the legislation which is preventing us from a more open international activity. The assessors commended the activities in the field of a family and ageing friendly university. They also commended the Rector's decision to assign a special vice-rector position for human resources.

From conversations with researchers from all four career stages they have learned that younger researchers are satisfied with the relationship of their supervisors and with their co-workers, the older ones with their autonomy and research freedom, however, some of them have the feeling that when it comes to habilitations research work is more emphasised than teaching. The main recommendations to be included in their report will relate to the need of introducing comprehensive preparations of assistants and assistant professors for taking part in the teaching process, so the quality of lectures will not depend only on the natural talent of an individual as well as to the necessity of a quick introduction of international vacancy notices at all faculties and more activities reflecting our genuine aspirations to win the best researchers.

For a considerable amount of work in preparing the action plan, supporting the work of the Human Resources Committee as well as reporting to the European Commission and carrying out the visit I would like to thank mag. Brigita Krsnik Horvat, who, as an assessor in the “HR Excellence in Research" network, planned the visit very well, making our work easier."