FAQ

The European Charter for Researchers (Charter) spells out a set of general principles and requirements which specify the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers as well as those of employers and funders of researchers. It provides a framework for the career management of researchers, addressing all researchers, employers and funders who would like to benefit from, develop and maintain a supportive research environment and working culture.

The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Code) consists of a set of general principles and requirements that should be followed by employers and funders when appointing or recruiting researchers. These principles and requirements ensure transparency of the recruitment and selection process with equal treatment of all applicants, and the development of an attractive, open and sustainable European labour market for researchers.

Together the Charter and Code are one of the cornerstones of EURAXESS Rights.

Employers and funders of researchers from all countries are invited to endorse the Charter & Code. Endorsements from organisations representing researchers are equally invited. More than 1,000 research institutions, research funders and organisations representing researchers have already expressed their endorsement either directly or via their umbrella organisations.

If you are a research employer or funder, endorsing the Charter & Code will imply the following:

1. You support a change in working culture
2. You join a truly pan-European network consisting of researchers and research organisations
3. You stand for a stimulating and favourable working environment for researchers
4. You show that you care about your researchers/employees
5. You benefit from international visibility by being listed on the EURAXESS Rights website

If your employer or funder has endorsed the Charter & Code you can be confident of the following:

1. Your rights as a professional are recognised and enhanced
2. Your mobility experience is valued
3. Your work-life balance is respected
4. Your recruitment will follow a transparent process
5. You join a truly pan-European network consisting of research organisations and researchers

If your organisation would like to endorse the Charter & Code, a scanned letter to this effect should be sent to rtd-charter@ec.europa.eu. Your organisations will then be listed here and the letter published next to the name of your organisation. The letter should be signed by the highest authority of your organisation.

Declarations of endorsements by employers and funders should ideally be followed by a concrete action plan for the implementation of the Charter & Code principles within the framework of the "Human Resources Strategy for Researchers incorporating the Charter & Code". However, this is not mandatory.

Please view the following section on the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers

The list of organisations that have already endorsed the Charter & Code, listed by country, is available here.