European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers

In a communication from March 2005, the European Commission adopted the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. These two documents are aimed at researchers as well as hiring institutions, and are key elements in the policy of the European Union to make research an attractive career, which is an essential feature of its strategy to stimulate economic growth and employment within the EU:

 

  • The European Charter for Researchers is a set of general principles and requirements which specifies the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers as well as of employers and/or funders of researchers. It constitutes a framework for researchers, employers and funders which invites them to act responsibly and as professionals within their working environment, and to recognise each other as such.

 

  • The Code of Conduct for the recruitment of researchers consists of a set of general principles and requirements that should be followed by employers and/or funders when appointing or recruiting researchers. These principles and requirements are complementary to those outlined in the European Charter for Researchers. Institutions and employers adhering to the Code of Conduct will openly demonstrate their commitment to act in a responsible and respectable way and to provide fair framework conditions to researchers, with a clear intention to contribute to the advancement of the European Research Area.

GOT ENERGY TALENT is fully committed with the principles set by the European Charter for Researchers’ and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. The Guide for Evaluators and the evaluation procedures have been designed accordingly. In accordance with the Charter, the evaluation and selection process is based on a number of well-established principles:

i) Excellence;

ii) Transparency;

iii) Fairness and impartiality;

iv) Efficiency and speed;

v) Data protection and confidentiality.

Ethics during the selection and the implementation of the fellowships

In compliance with the European Commission’s as well as with UAH’s and URJC’s high standards on responsible research and innovation, ethical issues will be closely monitored under Got Energy Talent MSCA-COFUND fellowship programme. The ethical dimension is a cross-cutting element that will be monitored during the whole lifecycle of the Programme.

Application Phase

Applicants submitting research proposals for funding under Got Energy Talent fellowship programme should proactively prove that they are aware of the applicable ethical provisions and that they will comply with the applicable European and national legislation and fundamental ethical principles.

 

Following H2020’s procedure, applicants will make their own ethics self-assessment via the application package. The application package includes an ethic self-assessment form made of two parts:

  • Part A) Ethics issues table: this consists on the completion of an ethical issues table (tick-box model similar to the one used in H2020) with the following aspects (1. Human embryos/fetuses; 2. Humans; 3. Human cells/tissues: 4. Personal data; 5. Animals; 6. Third countries; 7. Environment & Health and Safety; 8. Dual use; 9. Misuse; 10. Exclusive focus on civil applications; 11. Other). The aim of this is to determine whether or not the proposed project arises any ethical issues.

 

  • Part B) In case an applicant identifies an ethical issue in part A), he/she has to fill in a part B, where he/she will: explain how the identified ethical issue/s will be addressed in particular with relation to the research objectives, research methodology and the potential impact of the research; demonstrate the compliance with ethical and legal requirements; and provide the required evidence documents.

Evaluation Phase

Research proposals selected for funding and having identified ethical issues will go through an Ethical Assessment by Got Energy Talent Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee is made of both Ethics Committees in URJC and UAH. The Ethics Committee of the host academic institution the candidate applied for —either UAH or URJC— will be the competent body evaluating the ethical issues in the proposal.

The ethical report arising from the Ethical Committee will be reported to the fellow during the negotiation phase. If the Ethics Committee finds that ethic issues are insufficiently addressed, the applicant will be asked to review his/her approach and solve these issues in order to have a favorable report by the Ethics Committee. If, after this review, the Ethics Committee considers that the project proposal does not comply with ethics provisions and with the applicable legislation, the project proposal might be rejected.

Implementation Phase

During the execution of the fellowships, unplanned ethical matters may arise. The usual ethics appraisal procedure applied by UAH and URJC will be followed as described here (UAH) and here (URJC ). I.e. the fellow will ask for the appraisal of the relevant ethics committee before the execution of the action. To request an evaluation by the Ethics Committee, the fellow must complete and submit the relevant request form to the Ethics Committee. In those cases, the mentor should be a first reference for the fellows. Fellows must also inform GET Project Manager.

Applicants —as responsible and experienced researchers— are the main responsible for their research. It is their responsibility to identify any potential ethical issue that their research might involve. It is their responsibility to explain in their proposal how these aspects will be addressed. Likewise, in the case of being successful candidates, they will be obliged to comply with the ethical applicable regulations as well as with the possible requirements that the ethical committee may request from her/him.

Got Energy Talent Ethics Committee

Both UAH and URJC have independent committees on ethics whose mission is the assessment, evaluation and monitoring of the ethical aspects of the research developed within both universities. Both committees are independent and expert entities in charge of the ethical evaluations on research in their respective institutions. Their structure and functioning can be checked here (UAH) and here (URJC).

In the context of Got Energy Talent Programme, the ethics committees of UAH and URJC will constitute the ‘Ethics Committee’.