European Commission Awarded the University of Turku the Status of an Excellent Employer
European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo. The logo is a token of the university’s significant work in supporting the career and position of researchers, and providing a supportive and equal working environment.
The University of Turku applied for the logo among the first universities in Finland and in the Nordic countries.
– Receiving an internationally recognized status is an important step for us. For example, the awarded logo tells about our quality as an employer to research sponsors and researchers, who are considering coming to work for us, says Riitta Pyykkö, the Vice Rector of the University of Turku.
The University of Turku is committed to implement the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers of the European Commission. The guidelines aim to improve the position of researchers and the quality of research and to develop innovations throughout Europe.
– The university meets the standards of the EU very well. We want to continue to take things forward and we are committed to continuous development, Pyykkö tells.
Appreciation and Support for Researchers
The application process of the HR status included the evaluation and development of the university’s operations. In the fall 2012, an extensive project called Appreciation and Support for Researchers was initiated to find out which are the areas where the researchers need additional support. The aim of the project was to increase the sense of community and thus to promote the high-quality research.
A significant number of members of the university community participated in the project, and personnel and doctoral candidates were able to give feedback in every phase of the project.
– The development work, for one, helps the researchers to take new steps in their careers, Pyykkö states.
At the university, some development suggestions made during the project were carried out immediately.
– We are supporting even more effectively than before the access of the researchers working with a scholarship to our different services and the integration of the international personnel to the university and the Finnish society, Human Resources Development Specialist Johanna Mäkinen tells.
According to Tom Riski, the Head of Human Resources at the University of Turku, Finland has a high starting level compared with other countries as an advantage since Finland already has a lot of ready and good practices related to employment and working environment.
– The Contracts of Employment Act and the Collective Agreements Act protect the position of employees, the recruitment policies of employers are consistent, authorities supervise the occupational health and safety, and altogether the equality and uniformity of the procedures of the working places are taken care of in many ways, Riski lists.
Text: Henna Borisoff
Photograph: Hanna Oksanen