HR Excellence in Research award

The EU seeks to make Europe more attractive to researchers by

• improving the conditions for scientific freedom
• promoting an open labour market for researchers
• combating all forms of discrimination
• promoting access to knowledge sharing
• promoting continuous quality improvement in European higher education institutions.

The EU HR Excellence in Research Award means that the certified university is a responsible and professional employer in terms of recruitment and working conditions for both national and international researchers, regardless of their career stage. It also means that such university is committed to a long-term quality assurance process to ensure continued compliance with the European Charter for Researchers (EU Charter & Code). The charter covers

• ethical and professional aspects
• recruitment and selection
• working conditions, working environment and social security
• training and skills development for doctoral students and researchers.

The project aiming at a future dental education where educational planning could improve the conditions for cohesive research time is ongoing. Managers have implemented a new planning tool that makes it possible to get an overview of research and teaching time.

The follow-up on the implications of the project on work-time planning is an integral part of the Service Planning Process. The University’s responsibility is to adhere to the collective agreement on working time, ensuring transparent and timely planning for research and teaching. The tools and opportunities to adjust and allocate longer periods for research are available within the framework of the three-year planning.

The information on academic ranks, positions and employment conditions, opportunities for international mobility and collaboration, as well as on career services on Malmö University’s webpage has been updated and is accessible for current and prospective employees (including doctoral students), in both English and Swedish. The Communication department and the HR department will continue developing the information about career development on the website during 2025.

The International Office has launched a project aiming at informing doctoral students about what support is available to them. Work continues both on university and on faculty level.

The Career Guidance Workshop Series was replaced by a joint Peer Support Network (PSN) between Malmö University and Halmstad University, which was launched in 2023. Due to low participation, the network will not continue.

In addition to existing courses and initiatives in the area of professional skills and career development, the need for further activities is currently being evaluated and proposals for new activities are being considered.

The Leadership Programme for Future Research Leaders has been paused. Instead, a number of other initiatives, aimed at wider reach and target groups, have been taken to strengthen research leadership, including four one-day seminars on research leadership for professors, heads of department, and associate lecturers as well as work to develop a leadership programme for the directors of university-wide research centers.

The survey of how supervisory positions for doctoral students are currently allocated at each faculty has been postponed and university-wide criteria for the distribution of supervisory positions have not yet been developed. However, these questions are currently addressed at several faculties and departments. For example, the Faculty of Education and Society and the research education in social work have established written guidelines for allocation of supervisors.

Guidelines and support for how to write a budget for research applications have been developed and made available to the university’s staff. Information and guidelines regarding the Horizon Europe application process are being developed, and a “pre-award support system” will be launched shortly. There is an ongoing project aiming at coordinating how various departments (Grants Office, Finance Department, and Communications Department) work with supporting research staff applying for external research funding. The idea about a course in how to write a research application has been abandoned in favour of individual tailored support to researchers from the Grants Office. The Grants Office has self evaluated its routines, and initiatives are taken to promote a moreuser-oriented approach.

The Core Facility for Research Data and Data Analysis was established in early 2024 to support researchers in managing research data, conducting data analysis, addressing ethical issues related to research data, and using research IT tools. A dedicated Research Data Office has also been set up to provide expertise in research data management. The support offered is highly appreciated by researchers, although efforts to increase awareness of the services are still ongoing. An online course on Writing Data Management Plans has been launched and is available for researchers to take at any time. The overall goal is to ensure that the support provided by the Core Facility is tailored to researchers’ needs, well communicated, and widely known. Progress is measured by the continuous updating of the online course to meet both researchers’ needs and funders’ requirements, the ongoing review of legal and funder demands with corresponding adjustments to support and governance, and the updating of the university’s guidelines for handling research data when necessary.

A professional and competent recruitment and reception process for international staff is fundamental to Malmö University’s ability to attract and retain global talent. International Staff Support plays a central role in this process by offering guidance and assistance to international employees and guest researchers before, during, and after their stay. In addition to supporting individuals, the unit also works closely with university management and administrative staff to facilitate recruitment and ensure a welcoming environment for international guests.

International Staff Support aims to strengthen its contribution by evaluating the effectiveness of its services not only from the perspective of international staff, but also from the viewpoint of managers and administrative staff. This dual focus will help ensure that the support provided continues to meet the University’s evolving needs and strategic goals. To achieve this, the unit will engage in regular dialogue with managers and staff through individual meetings at institutional and faculty levels, and will also conduct structured surveys to gather feedback. These efforts will guide future improvements and ensure that International Staff Support remains responsive, relevant, and aligned with Malmö University’s ambitions.

Effective strategic recruitment of researchers and teachers, both nationally and internationally, along with transparent and well-defined academic career paths, are essential for achieving high quality, excellence, and continuous development in education, research, and collaboration at Malmö University. To support this ambition, the University is committed to further developing a comprehensive framework that includes regulations, organisational structures, processes, and support systems. This framework will be designed to promote high quality while ensuring objectivity and legal certainty throughout recruitment and promotion procedures.

In line with this commitment, Malmö University will work to establish an organisational structure that facilitates effective and high-quality recruitment and career advancement for researchers and teachers. Appointment rules and guidelines will be updated and clearly communicated to ensure consistency and transparency in recruitment and promotion practices.

Furthermore, the University will continue to refine its merit assessment criteria, taking into account both subject-specific traditions and innovative interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches in research and education. This development will be informed by ongoing national and European initiatives related to academic career paths and researcher recruitment. As part of this work, Malmö University will formulate clear recommendations regarding which qualifications in education, research, collaboration, and leadership should be used to assess the merits of researchers and teachers, ensuring a balanced and forward-looking approach to academic excellence.

As part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the societal impact of research, Malmö University is developing further measures to enable more researchers to effectively disseminate their work to a broader public. One such initiative is the Media Academy, designed for senior researchers, which aims to enhance participants’ communication skills and their ability to engage with media and public audiences.

The University’s ambition is to further develop the Media Academy so that researchers from all faculties and research centres have the opportunity to participate. This will ensure a broad and inclusive approach to research communication across disciplines. Over time, researchers who have completed the programme are expected to become more visible in media analyses, reflecting the growing presence and influence of Malmö University’s research in public discourse.

• Self-assessment and revised action plan (pdf)
• Letter of endorsement (pdf)
• Preamble to application (pdf)
• Action plan, long version (pdf)
• OTM-R checklist (pdf) 
• GAP analysis (pdf)