European Seal for Siegen

Award "HR Excellence in Research" attests excellent conditions for researchers at the University of Siegen.

As the first university in North Rhine-Westphalia, the University of Siegen has received the "HR Excellence in Research" seal from the European Commission. This award recognizes outstanding working conditions for researchers, transparent and performance-based recruitment processes, as well as career development opportunities for scientists. Internationally the seal is highly recognized. Top universities like the University of Cambridge carry it. In Germany, the University of Siegen is the ninth university allowed to carry this seal. It is awarded within the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R).

"A great success for our university and again proof that in Siegen excellent structures are created within which researchers can develop and achieve their goals", explained Prof. Dr. Peter Haring Bolívar, Prorector for Research and Junior Scientific Staff. Leading the way, Dr. Daniel Müller (Head of the House of Young Talents) and Benjamin Schwarzer (Head of the Personnel Devision) were responsible for the application of the University of Siegen.

In order to obtain the seal, the University of Siegen has signed the European Charter for Researchers, as well as a code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers, and has committed itself to the observance and implementation of the directives. For the university receiving the seal is a further building block for increasing both, the attractiveness of the university for scientists, and the chances of competing for the acquisition of EU funding.

Within the scope of the application, the University of Siegen has submitted an internal analysis and a plan of action based on it. Firstly an examination was made, to which extent the university already meets the 40 principles of the charter and code, where there might be a need for improvement, and which actions are planned to fulfill the principles. The subsequent improvements will include, for example, the completion of a support / promotion agreement with doctoral students, the implementation of a tenure track model, increasing transparency, and improving the prospects for postdocs and reviewing the recruitment processes.