The ICAC was distinguished with the accreditation and label HR Excellence in Research on March 29, 2015, according to the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) of the European Commission.
This distinction is based on two lines of action: the Action Plan and the OTM-R Principles.
Action Plan
See here the ICAC HRS4R Action Plan 2021-2023 to implement human resources policies following the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for Recruitment.
This updated action plan is the result of the overall HRS4R strategy evaluation process at the ICAC, carried out mostly during 2020 and ended with the Site Visit of an EC expert panel in March 2021 and the conclusion of the Action Plan 2015-2017 (extended to 2020).
The whole process was carried out using an inclusive and participatory approach, involving the whole research community, the governing bodies, all management departments, and scientific services. A Working Group was appointed, being responsible for leading and coordinating the process (see members here).
Action Plan 2015-2017 (extended to 2020) led the institution from a nascent organization to a truly internationalized one, ready to lead research and advanced training in Classical Archaeology. You can check this overall overview of the main achievements and implementation results.
OTM-R Principles
OTM-R (Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment) is a set of principles to ensure that recruitment processes are open, transparent, and based on merit. It is based on the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for Recruitment published by the European Commission in 2005.
OTM-R principles aim to procure hiring the best candidates in the job calls in the research centers. This process brings benefits to researchers, institutions, and research in general. The OTM-R fosters a more attractive research career, guarantees equal opportunities, and facilitates mobility.
The document ICAC OTM-R Principles (OTM-R Principles for recruitment and selection) establishes the principles and guidelines that should govern a good personnel recruitment policy. The first version of the document was approved by the ICAC in March 2017; the second version was approved in June 2021; and, the third version, revised and updated, was approved in June 2022.
HRS4R Working Group
ICAC enabled a working group to monitor internally the implementation of the HRS4R strategy. The ICAC HRS4R Working Group is composed of seven people, representing the different categories of stakeholders in the Institute:
- Research Area: Jesús Carruesco (R4), Ramon Járrega (R4) and Karen Fortuny (R1)
- Scientific-technical Services: Anna Gutiérrez Garcia-Moreno (R3)
- Management and Research Support Area: Maura Lerga, Maria Palacios, and Maria Gradillas (ICAC manager).
Since its creation, 35 work sessions have been held making possible the data collection, needs assessment, and the Action Plan draft. The HRS4R Working Group has ensured the achievement of milestones, detection of errors, and proposal of alternatives to achieve the resolution of the ICAC HRS4R Action Plan.
