Press release

The ULg is amongst the first European universities to commit themselves to applying the principles of the ‘European Charter for Researchers.'

Liège (Belgium), January 26, 2011. - The University of Liège is the first Belgian university to receive the European HR Strategy for Researchers quality label. This label, awarded by the European Commission, recognises the quality of the human resources management strategy which the ULg has developed in terms of research personnel.

This recognition provides guarantees to Belgian, European and international researchers that the ULg's strategy is firmly in line with applying the principles enshrined in the ‘European Charter for Researchers' and the ‘Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.'

The Charter and the Code defined by the European Commission are aimed at promoting excellence in research, researcher mobility and the academic and scientific attractiveness of the European Union as a research area. These two declarations set out for the member states and research institutions the rights and obligations of both researchers and their employers. They are based on the notion that research excellence can only flourish where researchers can benefit from an environment which favours research, training and  career development.

The ULg subscribes to these principles and is committed to using the performance aid established by the European Commission (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers incorporating the Charter and Code Principles) to put into action its research human resources management strategy. This approach rests principally on biennial self-assessment plus an external evaluation every four years, and on publishing, on open access on the internet, the institution's strengths and weaknesses as well as the actions put forward to remedy the latter.

It is for respecting to the letter this quality strategy that the European Commission has just recognised the ULg in awarding it, and this is a first in Belgium, the HR Strategy for Researchers label.

‘After the ECTS and the Diploma Supplement Labels in the area of teaching, this new European recognition is a real plus for our University. It is a proof of quality which will allow us to get even more involved in the major European research programmes and to strengthen our ability to attract academic and scientific talents to the ULg,' declared the Rector, Bernard Rentier.

‘With this label the ULg is making its mark on the European map, where it features as a wholehearted and committed researcher,' added the Rector.

The University of Liège's strategic declaration HRS4R (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers) can be consulted online at the following site http://www.ulg.ac.be/cms/c_418770/rights-hr-strategy

Press contacts

Isabelle Halleux, Directrice, Recherche & Développement, Université de Liège, +32 4 366 52 43, isabelle.halleux@ulg.ac.be

ULg Presse-Communication, +32 4 366 52 17, press@ulg.ac.be

Human Resources Strategy for Researchers internet site

http://ec.europa.eu/euraxess/index.cfm/rights/strategy4Researcher