As it is a wide-ranging theme, we started with the question what characterises high-quality research (in a resume) and how can we make this explicit in assessment or selection procedures?
About 40 FSS colleagues from scientific and support staff started a dialogue with each other to map out their common thoughts and ideas in order to continue working on the theme. In summary, the following questions were discussed by the groups and the panel (Els Rommes, Assistant Professor RSCR; Hanneke den Ouden, Associate Professor DCC and Recognition & Rewards Committee; James McQueen, Professor and Research Director DCC):
- What are the characteristics of a good researcher?
- Are these characteristics specific to disciplines and career phases?
- How can the characteristics be translated into transparent resumes?
- Is a narrative resume useful in identifying good researchers?
- How can the characteristics of a good researcher be translated and made explicit into the search & selection procedures of committees?
The Faculty Board is glad that so many useful suggestions and recommendations were given, both for the short term and for the longer term. The faculty will carry out the following follow-up actions in the near future and in the Annual Faculty Plan for 2024:
- The programme team Recognition and Rewards will be requested to map out how they intend to further incorporate the results of the meeting in the Recognition and Rewards project.
- The outcomes of the brainstorm will be included in the trajectories and (annual) conversations with directors, professors and supervisors.
- The HR team will be instructed to further professionalise selection and assessment committees and to include the given suggestions in the entire process from writing a vacancy text to the selection of candidates.
- The board will organise faculty brainstorming meetings more often, starting with a faculty input meeting on 26th September on the FSS Annual Plan 2024. More information will follow.