Great Working Conditions for Researchers
St. Pölten UAS Receives Award for "Human Resources Excellence in Research"
The St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences is now part of the European Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) serving the purpose of improving the working conditions of researchers in Europe.
Within the framework of the programme, the St. Pölten UAS developed an action plan and has now been honoured with the distinction “Human Resources Excellence in Research” for these measures as well as the first steps towards their implementation.
Attractive Perspectives for Researchers
The “European Charter for Researchers” and the “Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers” form the basis of the European programme and aims to improve the working conditions and career perspectives of researchers. To achieve this goal, every European research institution can introduce measures designed to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA) as a whole. The St. Pölten UAS has been part of this initiative since 2019.
“All higher education institutions are currently struggling to find and keep good researchers. There is a worldwide competition for the best talents, which is why we are very keen on implementing decisive steps in personnel development in order to improve the working conditions of researchers and offer them attractive prospects”, explains Gernot Kohl, Executive Director of the St. Pölten UAS.
“Growing international presence and recognition, numerous collaborations with partners from the fields of science, business and society building on our expertise, and a high number of distinctions achieved over the past few years are proof of our researchers’ excellent work. We therefore attach great importance to supporting our researchers as best we can. Our participation in this European programme and the distinction we have received for our human resources measures are a big step in the right direction”, emphasises Hannes Raffaseder, Chief Research and Innovation Officer at the St. Pölten UAS.
Package of Measures
Last year, the UAS service unit Human Resources and Legal Affairs developed an action plan and implemented the first measures together with many stakeholders, researchers, and the UAS service unit Research and Knowledge Transfer. The plan encompasses the topics of ethics and profession, recruitment and selection, working conditions, and further training and development.
The measures include strategic career guidance, a mentor system, a childcare concept, and more flexibility in terms of working hours. Moreover, targeted further trainings are promoted, for example in the areas of management skills, mentoring and supervision of junior researchers, while teaching and experience in terms of stays abroad, mobility and practice are given greater consideration in the career model.
The St. Pölten UAS is determined to implement further measures and identify additional room for improvement over the next two years.
Excellent Employer
With more than 3,400 students and approximately 350 full-time staff members, the St. Pölten UAS is a key player in the Austrian higher education landscape and one of the most important employers in the region. For years now, the UAS has been taking measures to offer its employees the best possible working conditions and to continually improve them.
The St. Pölten UAS came in first in the education and research sector in this year’s employer ranking of the magazine “Trend”. In the overall ranking of more than 300 employers, the UAS managed to achieve tenth place.