ENS de Lyon holds the "HR Excellence in Research" label, awarded by the European Commission, since March 2019. By committing to the HRS4R strategy, ENS de Lyon is participating in the construction of the European Research Area.
Committing to the HRS4R "Human Resources Strategy For Researchers" means participating in the construction of the European Research Area by complying with the recommendations of two founding documents: the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their Recruitment (2005).
The European Commission recognises with the 'HR Excellence in Research Award' the institutions which make progress in aligning their human resources policies to the 40 principles of the Charter & Code, based on a customized action plan/HR strategy.
These 40 principles define the roles and responsibilities of researchers, teacher-researchers and staff contributing to research activities on the one hand, and on the other hand, provide recommendations enabling their employers to improve working, training and recruitment conditions with a view to making scientific careers and researchers' mobility more attractive.
In 2016, ENS de Lyon decided to adhere to the European principles and to launch a collective dynamic aiming to obtain the HRS4R label. Strengthening the institution's attractiveness and international influence, and confirming its successful integration into the European research area: these are the challenges of the label.
On March 22, 2019, ENS de Lyon was awarded the label for five years and launched the implementation of the strategy validated by the European Commission (EC), mobilizing a dozen departments in a cross-cutting qualitative approach over three years.
In October 2022, following a self-evaluation of the initial action plan, a new strategy, in continuity and progression of the first one, received a very favourable opinion from the European Commission.
The HRS4R strategy is now integrated into the institution's overall policy and is part of the 2021-2026 strategic development axes.
In October 2024, a new self-evaluation and an updated strategy will be proposed, when applying for the renewal of the label. On this occasion, an on-site visit by European Commission experts will also take place. The application for renewal will then be repeated every three years.