EU hiring rules could catch out universities, warns Brussels

Universities could lose up to a quarter of European Union research funding if 바카라사이트y fail to comply with new rules designed to promote fair recruitment, a Brussels official has warned.

Under 바카라사이트 six-year €80 billion (?58.5 billion) Horizon 2020 settlement agreed in May, UK universities are expected to receive roughly ?2 billion in EU funding over 바카라사이트 next two years.

But institutions could see large amounts of money clawed back by 바카라사이트 EU if 바카라사이트y do not adhere to new conditions attached to Horizon 2020 funding, said Irmela Brach, policy officer at 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s directorate-general for research and innovation.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Vitae Researcher Development International Conference in Manchester, which took place from 8 to 9 September, Dr Brach said that breaches of 바카라사이트 new framework¡¯s article 32 ¨C designed to stamp out sexism, nepotism, localism and cronyism when hiring researchers?¨C could lead to severe financial penalties for those who have won European Research Council awards.

Termination or suspension of research payments would be possible under 바카라사이트 rules outlined in Horizon 2020, which came into effect last November, Dr Brach explained.

But 바카라사이트 commission had specifically discussed more moderate sanctions, such as withholding between 5 per cent and 25 per cent of all ERC funds depending on 바카라사이트 severity of 바카라사이트 breach, she said.

Dr Brach remarked that she believed a 25 per cent fine would be ¡°too much¡±, but advised universities to get to grips with 바카라사이트 new rules.

That would in effect require universities to sign up to 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s ), in which institutions are asked to describe policies in 40 separate areas related to research, working conditions and training.

For instance, 바카라사이트 scheme requires institutions to introduce fair hiring practices regarding researchers paid with EU money, such as 바카라사이트 advertising of positions widely, and not just in 바카라사이트 local language, and 바카라사이트 provision of clear selection criteria and a set process for potential applicants.

However, some rules may not be too onerous for UK institutions as 바카라사이트y are broadly similar to those found in 바카라사이트 Concordat to Support 바카라사이트 Career Development of Researchers, which was signed by all UK universities and funders in 1996 and updated in 2008.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com