CARDEA Charter for RM's (Proposed)

The Proposed European Charter for Research Managers is a set of core pillars and principles intended to promote the professionalisation and acknowledgement of rewarding careers in research management. Its primary goal is to bolster excellence in research and innovation across the European Research Area (ERA). While aligning with existing frameworks, namely the European Charter for Researchers, this charter specifically centres on outlining the rights and responsibilities of research managers (RM), employers, funders, and policymakers. It consists of 20 key principles.  

Basic Principle: RMs play a crucial role in supporting the performance and impact of research activities across institutions. This charter establishes principles and guidelines to enhance the recognition, development, and effectiveness of research management as a critical professional role within the ERA. The RM Charter is a text of reference to reinforce the activity of RMs in research organisations and institutions to support and improve research performance. The best research requires the best support, which means excellent RMs.

Purpose and Scope of the Charter: This charter provides a framework to support and promote the visibility of RMs’ role within the European research ecosystem. It aims to outline RMs’ rights, responsibilities, and professional development opportunities while also detailing the responsibilities of employers, funders, and policymakers in fostering a collaborative, innovative, and effective research environment. This charter is necessary to increase the capacity for professional excellence in research management and to improve the overall ERA.

To read the Charter for Research Managers please download it here: Cardea (proposed) Charter for Research Managers

Charter Implementation Framework

The Proposed European Charter for Research Managers (ECRM) sets forth a vision for advancing the role of research management professionals across Europe. Recognising the essential contributions of research managers in navigating the complexities of modern research environments, the Charter seeks to provide a cohesive framework for their professional development and recognition. Research managers are instrumental in securing funding, streamlining project execution, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, all of which are crucial for the success of the European Research Area.

A key focus of the Charter is to promote the formal recognition of research management as a distinct profession. By establishing a standardised set of competencies and skills, the ECRM aims to create consistency across European institutions, offering clear career pathways and development opportunities for professionals in this field. Furthermore, the Charter emphasises the importance of ethical standards and inclusive practices, underscoring the commitment to diversity and equal opportunity within research management.

The ECRM also supports continuous professional growth through structured training and resources, equipping research managers with the tools needed to adapt to an evolving research landscape. By fostering collaboration across borders, the Charter enables knowledge-sharing and collective problem-solving, reducing redundancy and enhancing efficiency across European research initiatives.

This document serves as a strategic foundation for implementing the Charter’s goals, positioning research management as a vital element in Europe’s pursuit of research innovation and excellence. Through the widespread adoption of these principles, the Charter aspires to strengthen the profession and support the larger ambitions of the European research community.

To download the Charter Implementation Framework for Research Managers please download he document here:Charter Implementation Framework

HR Excellence in Research

The aim of the Charter and Code for Researchers is to ensure that the nature of the relationship between researchers and employers is conducive to successful research performance and to the career development of researchers.   This is an evolving process that enables HR to place the principles of the European Charter and Code at the core of its policies for research staff.  It’s a voluntary process that many European organisations have committed to wholeheartedly.  It is not a requirement for participation in EU funded programmes yet - but when you consider that every UCC Principal Investigator signs up to its principles when a Horizon Europe grant is awarded then you can understand how important this award is to the ERA and how seriously the European Commission considers it.  

So now CARDEA will leverage our experience and scale up our activities and ideas from the national and organisational level to the European level.  We will work to connect in with the Pact for Research under Action 17 at the national level and by doing so will foster future dialogue by continuing to share our HR Excellence in Research best practice and facilitating collaboration and coordination on common research and innovation objectives. 

Our project creates a synergy between the European Research Area and the European Education Area through adult learning, skills and qualifications and by working to provide information on skills needs across countries and sectors within the area of Research Manager Roles.    

Find out more about HR Excellence in Research.