The University of Jena aims to offer researchers at all career levels excellent working conditions. To this end, it has developed a comprehensive package of measures over the past few years. For this strategic orientation, the University has now been honoured with the "HR Excellence in Research Award", which the European Commission has been presenting since 2008 to scientific institutions that are committed to the further development and improvement of the framework conditions for their researchers. The University of Jena is one of 26 institutions in Germany that currently hold this title. It now has until 2027 to implement its planned measures.

University of Jena positions itself as an attractive employer

"With the 'HR Excellence in Research Award', the University of Jena is ideally positioned for the international competition for excellent researchers and European research funding," says a delighted Prof. Dr Thomas Pertsch. Receiving this seal of approval emphasizes the University's dedication to the structured improvement of working conditions and the systematic career development of researchers, declares the Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the University of Jena. By committing to open, transparent and performance-related personnel recruitment, the University is also providing important impetus for process optimization and positioning itself as a fair and attractive employer.

The package of measures with which the University of Jena aims to improve the working conditions of its researchers is the result of a comprehensive process in which all structural units and interest groups as well as researchers at all career levels were involved. The award-winning package of measures includes, for example, translating administrative forms into English, expanding e-learning opportunities for the further training of researchers and strengthening the leadership and mentoring skills of researchers.

The application process was initiated at the University of Jena as part of the European Alliance EC2U - European Campus of City Universities and funded by the EU via the accompanying project Research and Innovation for Cities and Citizens (RI4C2).