HRS4R UMH Action Plan 2020 -2021
The approved improvement actions are assigned a person in charge of their compliance, the main activities to be carried out are identified, they are timed with a deadline for compliance, indicators and a clear objective are kept in each one of them.
13. ACTIONS CARRIED OUT IN 2020
1ACC: HAVE AN UPDATED CODE OF GOOD SCIENTIFIC PRACTICE AND DISSEMINATE IT ACROSS THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF KNOWLEDGE.
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Office for Responsible Research (OIR)
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ): Code of Good Scientific Practice
LINK: https://bit.ly/3g12Hzy
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS :
The departments and staff involved in creating the Code of Good Scientific Practice of the UMH and the creation of the Research Ethics and Integrity Committee of the UMH were defined following comprehensive work gathering the procedures and policies conducted at the UMH relative to good scientific practice and the ethical codes of other international institutions. This document was sent via email by the Vice-Rector for Research to the entire university community, and is available on the website of the Office for Responsible Research. Said code has been implemented for all the branches of knowledge of the UMH.
The corresponding training actions are conducted through the Nanocursos platform of the UMH.
3ACT: PRODUCE A RESEARCHER WELCOME MANUAL
COMPETENT BODY: Vice-rectorate for Research
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Department of Quality
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ): WELCOME MANUAL FOR RESEARCH STAFF
LINK: https://bit.ly/3gnWFrY
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
A researcher welcome manual has been created which includes information structured around six axes: i) institutional information, ii) financing, iii) working conditions, iv) training, v) prevention of occupational hazards and vi) other information of interest.
4ACT: HAVE AN UPDATED DATA PROTECTION PLAN
COMPETENT BODY: UMH Data Protection Officer
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: General Secretary
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ): RESEARCH PROTOCOL AND MANDATORY INFORMATION
LINK: https://bit.ly/3cm190X
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
The UMH has produced a dynamic Data Protection Protocol that is regularly updated to adapt it to European, national and regional regulation.
The goal is to have staff trained on the issue of data protection. To do so, the head of data protection of the UMH organises regular training sessions on this issue. Training actions were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-2019 pandemic. Specific training actions have been planned for 2021.
6ACT: PRODUCE A DIVERSITY PLAN
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Department of Equality
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ): First Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan
LINK: https://bit.ly/34W2vvj
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
In 2019, the UMH created a new Vice-rectorate for Inclusion, Sustainability and Sports with direct competences in equality and social inclusion. An ambitious Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan was approved in 2020. This Plan was sent to the entire university community via email from the Vice-rectorate for Inclusion, Sustainability and Sports. Likewise, it was sent to the media by the Rector of the UMH, the Vice-Rector for Inclusion, Sustainability and Sports, the Vice-Rector for Culture and the head of the Department of Equality of the UMH. Specific training actions have been planned for 2021.
10ACT: ENSURE CALLS FOR THE SELECTION OF RESEARCH STAFF INCLUDE INFORMATION ON THE ASSESSMENT SCALES THAT WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CANDIDATES
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Department of Administrative and Services Staff
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ): Agreement for the approval of the general scale for research staff recruitment
LINK: https://bit.ly/3543auo
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
The UMH has a general scale applied to all research staff recruitment calls. All the heads of Research Departments and Institutes of the UMH and the members of the Research Committee, headed by the Vice-Rector for Research, took part in its creation. This general scale is published as an Appendix in all calls and must be used by all selection committees appointed by the UMH.
15ACT: DEVELOP A SUPPORT SERVICE FOR RESEARCHERS WITH DISABILITIES
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Office of Attention to Disability
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ):Researchers with disabilities
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
The UMH has created the Department of Attention to Diversity and Disability listed in its new regulation for the inclusion of people with disabilities. The goal of the department is to guarantee full participation in activities pertaining to the university community and to tend to the needs of people with disabilities, especially specific needs of educational support. This functional department takes on the responsibility of gathering accurate information to propose relevant action measures, acting as the intermediary between the users and all involved administrative services or units. Said functional department is responsible for tending to the needs regarding attention to diversity and disability of the entire university community, including research staff with special needs.
16ACT: ADAPT THE INTERNAL TOOL FOR THE EAITTDiC, TO BE ABLE TO APPRAISE THE PROFESSIONAL CAREER OF RESEARCH STAFF
COMPETENT BODY: Vice-rectorate for Information Technologies
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Vice-rectorate for Research
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ):Actualización Gestor Curriculum
LINK
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
In 2020, all temporary research staff belonging to the Research Institutes of the UMH had access to the Curricular Manager tool, where they could insert their annual research productivity data. It is the responsibility of the heads of the Institute to communicate to these researchers every year that this tool is available to them, allowing them to evaluate their research productivity.
The Vice-Rector for Research notified all the heads of Research Institutes of the UMH of this improvement, both in the Research Committee and in an email, providing the necessary instructions for its implementation.
17ACT: DISSEMINATE THE DUTIES OF THE RESEARCH STAFF OMBUDSMAN AND THOSE OF THE COMMISSION IN THE CASE OF COMPLAINTS AND/OR CONFLICT
APPROVAL DATE:09/03/2020
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Office of the University Ombudsman
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ): WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY OMBUDSMAN?
LINK: https://bit.ly/3cs2zH5
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
The University Ombudsman is the member of the university community appointed by the Miguel Hernández University and chosen by the university staff, who guarantees the respect and protection of the legitimate rights and interests of its members, as well as compliance with the Statutes, by supervising all university activities. The ombudsman’s main tasks are:
1 – To organise their activity with total freedom and to manage the budget and resources assigned to them explicitly in the annual budget of the university, so that they can carry out their tasks.
2 – To receive the complaints issued by any identified member of the university community, or by anyone who is not identified when the complaint is issued by members of the university bodies that represent said person.
3 – To implement the proposals they see fit for the appropriate solving of cases brought to their attention.
4 – To submit an annual report that includes their actions in an extraordinary and joint session of the university staff and the Governing Board. Afterwards, the university staff may approve proposals pertaining to any of its items, which will be binding.
All the information and annual reports of their activity are available to the entire university community and society as a whole on the following link: https://defensor.umh.es/
17 ACT 2: DISSEMINATE THE TASKS OF THE COMMITTEE IN THE CASE OF COMPLAINTS AND/OR CONFLICT APPROVAL DATE: 29/10/2019
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Department of Occupational Hazard Prevention
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ): Agreement for the approval to modify the Protocol for the prevention and action against situations of interpersonal conflict and psychological workplace harassment
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
The harassment protocols of the UMH have been approved by the Governing Board and can be downloaded from the following website: https://prevencion.umh.es/protocolos/
The person responsible for the Department of Occupational Hazard Prevention at the UMH, Mr Francisco Hernández, regularly conducts training sessions on this issue aimed at the entire university community. These were conducted in a telematic manner through the Google Meet platform of the UMH in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
18ACT: CREATE A MANUAL FOR PROJECT DIRECTORS AND SUPERVISORS
COMPETENT BODY: Vice-rectorate for Knowledge Transfer and Exchange.
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Office for Responsible Research
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ):GUIDE OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR DIRECTING AND SUPERVISING RESEARCH PROJECTS
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
This Guide of Good Scientific Practice aimed at research project directors and supervisors is a document that compiles, in a clear and concise way, some of the rules, recommendations and commitments that favour the quality and integrity of research conducted by researchers of the Miguel Hernández University, and is framed within the Code of Good Scientific Practice at the UMH.
The Office for Responsible Research (OIR) conducts the corresponding training actions through the Nanocursos platform of the UMH.
19ACT: CREATE A UNIFIED PLAN FOR BASIC RESEARCHER TRAINING AND DISEMMINATE IT
COMPETENT BODY: Vice-rectorate for Research
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Vice-rectorate for Research
DOCUMENT ( Downloadable PDF ):
LINK: http://formacioninvestigadores.edu.umh.es/
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS:
The “Curso de Formación Básica de Investigadores” (Basic Training Course for Researchers) of the UMH can be checked and attended at the following blog: http://formacioninvestigadores.edu.umh.es/
This Plan will be officially presented at the Annual Congress of Doctoral Students that will take place on 4 February 2021. Link: https://congresoestudiantesdoctorado.umh.es/
21ACT: TRANSLATE REGULATION AND PROTOCOLS RELATED TO RESEARCH ACTIVITY AND RECRUITING PROCESSES INTO ENGLISH, AND PUBLISH THEM ONLINE
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan
Regulation for the inclusion of people with disabilities
Dissemination of the Tasks of the University Ombudsman document
Harassment protocols of the UMH
Good Scientific Practice Guide aimed at research project directors and supervisors
14. ACTIONS CARRIED OUT IN 2021
2ACC: PROMOTE COLLABORATION AMONG UMH RESEARCH GROUPS
COMPETENT BODY: Vice-rectorate for Research
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Vice-rectorate for Research
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF):
LINK: https://congresoestudiantesdoctorado.umh.es/
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
Three strategies have been implemented to promote collaboration among UMH research groups:
- Organising the Annual Congress for Doctoral Scholars on 2 February 2021. Link: https://congresoestudiantesdoctorado.umh.es/
- Producing informative videos on UMH research groups. The goal is to increase the number of competitive interdisciplinary projects and to direct/coordinate joint doctoral theses.
- Incentives to conduct interdisciplinary bachelor degree dissertations. Link: http://tfgi.edu.umh.es/
5ACT: HAVE A SCIENCE DISSEMINATION PLAN
COMPETENT BODY: Consejo de Gobierno
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Servicio de Comunicación
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): HAVE A SCIENCE DISSEMINATION PLAN
LINK: https://bit.ly/3x4Wnwz
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
Scientific dissemination has been one of the goals of the UMH since its inception, both on an institutional and individual level, thanks to the effort of the entire scientific and teaching staff. For decades, the social environment of the university has been able to enjoy initiatives created to take research to the streets, such as the “Semana del Cerebro” (Brain Week) organised at the UMH-CSIC Neuroscience Institute; informative programming on Radio UMH; sending research results to the media; and the full availability of the scientific and research staff of the UMH whenever their help has been requested to clarify topical scientific situations or concepts as experts on the issue. However, full communication was required to represent the gender balance and all the fields of knowledge that are addressed at the university. This is how the UMH Sapiens platform emerged in 2013, which has now become the flagship of dissemination at our university, receiving in 2019 the plaque of honour of the Spanish Association of Scientists (AEC).
Through the Annual Plan for Scientific Dissemination approved in March 2021 by our Governing Board, the Miguel Hernández University of Elche holds activities for the general public, in different in-person and online formats. They have been created to be enjoyed and to cultivate critical thinking among the general public and a positive view of research, while demonstrating the results of applied research and, in general, the common good provided by public investment in scientific knowledge.
7ACT: IMPROVE THE ACCESS AND DISSEMINATION OF BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL REGULATION REGARDING THE RECRUITMENT OF STAFF
COMPETENT BODY: Consejo de Gobierno
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Servicio de PAS
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): REGULATION FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH STAFF AND STAFF THAT COLLABORATES WITH RESEARCH TASKS
LINK: https://bit.ly/3pOtKBB
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
The UMH has obtained the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award, whose goal is to promote and improve recruitment, working conditions and research careers while contributing to the development of the European Research Area. In order to manage it appropriately, the Governing Board agreed to approve, on 30 January 2019, the “Policy for the recruitment and selection of research staff of the Miguel Hernández University in line with the OTM-R strategy of the European Union”. On 24 March 2021, the Governing Board of the UMH approved new regulation for the recruitment of research staff and other staff that collaborates with research tasks, which can be viewed and is of free access on the website of the UMH (Department of Administrative and Service Staff). Its article 6.2 establishes that calls will be published on the official notice boards of the university, and they will be sent to the Regional Labour Insertion Department so they can gain increased visibility. Furthermore, if they are calls funded by research projects subsidised by the European Union, they will be published simultaneously on the Euraxess jobs website (https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs). Likewise, the UMH, through its Communication Service, will analyse the appropriate external means of dissemination to advertise individual calls in order to entice foreign research staff or the return of Spanish researchers who are conducting research activities abroad.
Furthermore, it will be possible to submit an application, curriculum and supporting documents via the electronic register of the UMH. This way, following the principles of the OTM-R policies of the EU, the UMH will facilitate the electronic management of the corresponding documentation to the extent of its technical possibilities, thus encouraging the participation of people who are not Spanish and/or do not live in Spain.
8ACT: IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF RECRUITMENT PROCESSES
COMPETENT BODY: Vicerrectorado de Investigación
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Servicio de PAS
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): REGULATION FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH STAFF AND STAFF THAT COLLABORATES WITH RESEARCH TASKS
LINK: https://bit.ly/3pOtKBB
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
The development of regulation and certain events make it advisable to update the ways that staff participates in research activities conducted at the UMH, by approving new regulation that regulates them taking into account the new general framework. On 24 March 2021, the Governing Board of the UMH approved new regulation for the recruitment of research staff and other staff that collaborates with research tasks. In order to improve the efficiency of the recruitment processes, its chapter II regulates the following aspects: Recruitment proposal (art. 6), staff selection (art. 8), extraordinary recruitment procedure (art. 9) and contract formalisation (art. 10). It is worth mentioning the specific regulation of the extraordinary recruitment procedure in its art. 9.1: “As an exception, when conducting research activity requires the urgent addition of staff with highly specific duties, an extraordinary recruitment procedure may be applied in connection to the activity’s requirements”. Its article 9.2 says that: “The researchers in charge must justify the urgent nature of the recruitment and the specificity of the activities to be conducted”. And article 9.3 adds that: “Said extraordinary process will entail the urgent recruitment of the proposed candidate after reviewing the reasoned reports”.
9ACT: ADAPT THE RESEARCH STAFF REGULATION FOLLOWED BY SELECTION COMMITTEES SO THAT IT INCLUDES PARITY CRITERIA
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Department of Administrative and Services Staff
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): REGULATION FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH STAFF AND STAFF THAT COLLABORATES WITH RESEARCH TASKS
LINK: https://bit.ly/3pOtKBB
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
On 24 March 2021, the Governing Board of the UMH approved new regulation for the recruitment of research staff and other staff that collaborates with research tasks. Specifically, its article 8.2 expressly says that “the selection of research staff and other staff that collaborates with research tasks will be conducted by assessment committees. Each assessment committee will be comprised by at least three full members and one substitute, of an equal or higher status than the position on offer. This guarantees their impartiality, suitability and professionalism regarding their knowledge on the functional content of the profile of the person who is to be selected, as well as guaranteeing a balanced participation of men and women. The people who comprise the committee will ensure that there is no conflict of interests in the applications admitted in the selection process, using the abstention and/or disqualification channels available in current regulation”.
11ACT: RECRUITMENT GUIDE THAT INCLUDES MERITS
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Department of Administrative and Services Staff
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): REGULATION FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH STAFF AND STAFF THAT COLLABORATES WITH RESEARCH TASKS
LINK: https://bit.ly/3pOtKBB
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
Article 8.2 of the recruitment regulation approved by the Governing Board on 24 March 2021 expressly addresses the inclusion of merits to be assessed by the recruitment committees. Each committee will assess the applications according to the scale established in the call, which will be governed by the general scale approved by the Governing Board of the UMH, detailed in Annex II of said regulation, and may require performing technical tests or any other system while ensuring the objectivity and transparency of the process. This assessment may be completed with an interview if established by the committee. They must clearly establish and duly advertise the criteria that will be taken into account in each skill that will be assessed in order to consider a candidate’s suitability.
12ACT: ENSURE RESEARCH STAFF RECRUITMENT REGULATION TAKES INTO ACCOUNT PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR EXTENDED LEAVES OF ABSENCE
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Department of Administrative and Services Staff
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): REGULATION FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH STAFF AND STAFF THAT COLLABORATES WITH RESEARCH TASKS
LINK: https://bit.ly/3pOtKBB
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
Article 8.2 of the recruitment regulation approved by the Governing Board on 24 March 2021 expressly addresses the consideration of personal circumstances for long-term sick leaves and the respect for minorities: “Assessment committees may assess personal circumstances for sick leaves, leaves of absence due to births or long-term sick leaves of the candidates, as long as objective and reasoned criteria are applied, which must be included in the corresponding record. The assessments conducted by the committees must be governed by academic quality criteria, based on equal opportunities and must reject any discrimination based on sex, ethnicity or religious belief or non-belief.
13ACT: PROMOTE AND RECOGNISE MOBILITY AMONG RESEARCH STAFF
COMPETENT BODY: Vice-rectorate for Research and International Relations
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Research Management Service and Office for International Relations and Cooperation
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): REGULATION FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH STAFF AND STAFF THAT COLLABORATES WITH RESEARCH TASKS
LINK: https://bit.ly/3pOtKBB
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
Article 20 of the recruitment regulation approved by the Governing Board on 24 March 2021 expressly addresses the promotion and recognition of mobility for the research staff. Thus, research staff recruited by the UMH, in order to develop their research and/or professional career, may perform temporary stays in other national or foreign centres as supplementary activities directly connected to the research project they are working on, in order to complete their research training. They must have prior authorisation by the person responsible for the research, which must include a favourable report on the interest of the stay and the approval of the management team of the Department/Institute and of the Vice-rectorate with responsibilities on research, and may last no more than 90 days. Likewise, the general scale for the selection of research staff approved by the Governing Board on 25 June 2020 adds stays that researchers have conducted at other universities and research centres as an assessable criterion (code A6 of said scale).
14ACT: ADAPT THE RESEARCH STAFF REGULATION REGARDING THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCHERS
COMPETENT BODY: Governing Board
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Department of Teaching and Research Staff
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): REGULATION FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF RESEARCH STAFF AND STAFF THAT COLLABORATES WITH RESEARCH TASKS
LINK: https://bit.ly/3pOtKBB
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS
Article 14 of the regulation expressly says that the principal investigators in charge of the activities of the people recruited will implement the necessary measures to meet the obligations generated by the agreements regulated by this regulation. Likewise, they must promote the research career of the research staff and their international mobility by applying, at all times, the regulation of the Committee for Ethics and Integrity in Research (CEII). Furthermore, three articles have been added to the regulation to favour the development of the research career of research staff: Art. 18, Art. 19 and Art. 20, which regulate collaborating with teaching, collaborating with other activities and mobility, respectively.
Article 18.- Collaborating with teaching
In general, for the development of their academic-research career, and as long as the project’s conditions allow it, the research staff of the UMH may collaborate with teaching tasks under supervision and in the framework of academic tutelage, on issues connected to their research activity. This may not entail a decline in the teaching loads at the department that assigns the collaboration, which may last a maximum of 80 hours a year while in no case detracting from the research purpose of their connection to the UMH. Specifically, the pre-doctoral research staff in training may collaborate with teaching tasks under supervision in the context of academic tutelage, on issues connected to their research activity, as long as it does not entail a decline in the teaching loads at the department that assigns the collaboration, which may last a maximum of 180 hours for the duration of the pre-doctoral contract, and no more than 60 hours a year. The department or institute connected to the official doctoral programme they are enrolled in will facilitate performing these collaborations for the research staff that so requests, with equal opportunities and within the established limits. The teaching will be certified, on petition of the interested person, by the General Secretariat of the UMH.
Article 19.- Participating in other activities
The research staff with a contract for work and service may collaborate with activities that are regulated in article 83 of the Spanish Organic Universities Act, as long as they have a full-time contract and their participation is related to the activity for which they were recruited and within the framework of the same project. If this is the case, the activity will be considered of special performance. The research staff in training may collaborate in activities regulated by article 83 of the Universities Act, as long as the specific provisions of the aid that the contract derives from do not prevent it. The research staff and collaborating staff, in order to develop their professional career, may perform occasional collaborations in congresses, seminars, conferences or courses of a professional nature for up to 75 hours a year.
Article 20.- Mobility
Pursuant, where relevant, to the specific provisions of the aid that the contract is derived from, the research staff recruited by the university may, in order to develop their research and/or professional career, perform temporary stays in other national or foreign centres as supplementary activities in order to complete their research training, as long as it is directly connected to the research project they are conducting and for no more than 90 days.
As well as the mentioned regulation, the UMH has approved an academic-research career document whose main goal is to provide incentives and calls that allow their researchers to develop their careers.
20ACT: CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF THE TRAINING NEEDS FOR THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE
COMPETENT BODY: Vice-rectorate for Teaching Staff
SERVICE/OFFICE IN CHARGE: Vice-rectorate for Teaching Staff
DOCUMENT (downloadable PDF): TRAINING NEEDS OF THE MIGUEL HERNÁNDEZ UNIVERSITY RESEARCH STAFF BY BRANCHES OF KNOWLEDGE
TRAINING/DISSEMINATION ACTIONS