The initial stage of the Strategy’s implementation began in 2018, with the signing of the letter of endorsement and the constitution of the Steering Committee, which was completed within 12 months and involved:

• Internal analyses of the institution to assess its practices regarding professional ethics, recruitment, working conditions, equality and training, based on the principles established under the Charter and the Code.
• The development and publication of an action plan to adapt the policies and practices of the institution to the Strategy, according to the results of the internal analysis.
• Multi-agent : in line with the new management models and which took account of the expectations of the various interest groups connected to the R&D&I UdG ecosystem: “what is required”, “what is expected” and “what is wanted”.
• Active participation: involving the different agents in the planning process, and contributing to developing a strong sense of commitment and team work, which is essential for the subsequent implementation and exploitation of the action plan.

In September 2019 the UdG’s Governing Council approved the “Universitat de Girona’s Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) Action Plan”, implemented in 22 actions, grouped under 6 thematic areas (Ethics and gender equality; Research and open access data management; open, transparent and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) process; Framework of professional careers in research; Research assessment and management; and Communication).

An outline of the 22 actions included in the 6 areas is shown below

The University of Girona was recognised by the EU on 2 June 2020 (Initial Assessment_EC Concensus Report) with the European seal HR Excellence in Research, which corresponds to the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers-HRS4R).

The importance of having achieved the HRS4R seal lies, internally, in its contribution to the improvement of the conditions that researchers carry out their activities in and, externally, in the increased visibility and trust in our University as a magnet for attracting talent, while enabling the UdG to take part in external competitive calls under equal conditions, as with all the other European institutions that have already received this recognition.

The process followed by the UdG from the letter of commitment to the recognition of the HR seal is shown below:

In July 2022, EURAXESS issued the favourable report (Interim Assessment_EC_Consensus report) , as a result of the report drafted by the Action Plan's implementation and monitoring committee and conveyed to the EU.

Ongoing and collaborative team work has been continuing since July 2022 on the Revised 2022 plan, resulting in 28 actions for the second term of 2025, and in accordance with the established procedure, a prepared report and visit to the place by the EU is expected.

It will start in mid-2025, once the implementation stage has finished, and involve:

• Assessment of the application of the Revised Action Plan published during the implementation stage;
• Publication and assessment of the Improvement Action Plan, which it will include over the next three years (36 months);
• The first renovation stage will also include a visit to the Institution’s facilities;
• The later Renovation stages will continue implementing the Improvement Action Plan alternating every three years (every 36 months) Renovation with visits and renovations without visits to the place (that is, 1st renovation with visits to the place, 2nd without, 3rd with visit, 4th without visit and so on).