The award is given to institutions that have a robust and public implementation strategy for improving the career development and management of their researchers.
To retain the award, ARU was required to show evidence of working to principles set out by the Commission. These include:
- Recognition of the importance of recruiting, selecting and retaining researchers with the highest potential to achieve excellence in research.
- Recognising researchers as a key component of an overall strategy to develop and deliver world-class research.
- Equipping and supporting researchers to be adaptable and flexible in an increasingly diverse – and mobile – global research environment.
- Recognising and promoting the importance of researchers' personal and career development, and lifelong learning.
- Promoting diversity and equality in all aspects of the recruitment and career management of researchers.
Professor Yvonne Barnett, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at ARU, said: “We are delighted to have retained this important recognition which reinforces our institutional commitment to supporting the career development of our researchers, who are valued colleagues at the heart of realising our research ambitions at ARU.”
The HR Excellence in Research Award is managed on behalf of the European Commission in the UK by Vitae, an organisation dedicated to supporting the professional development of researchers.
ARU first gained the award in 2013 and is required to undertake regular internal and external reviews to retain it.