The final summit of the SECURE project took place on March 6th in Brussels, hosted by the Yerun network. Bringing together key stakeholders from across Europe, the event marked the culmination of efforts to improve research careers through strategic frameworks and innovative tools.
One of the central outcomes of the project is the Research Career Framework (RCF)—a comprehensive suite of actions designed to reform research careers within research-performing and research-funding organisations. The framework offers eight thematic priority areas encompassing 80 concrete actions, allowing institutions to address career gaps and support researchers.
According to Gareth O’Neill from Technopolis Group Belgium, the framework acts as a “toolbox of Lego bricks,” enabling organisations to choose relevant actions and translate them into practical implementation strategies. He emphasized that the ultimate goal is to improve researchers’ lives by providing adaptable solutions.
Another important dimension of the project is the exploration of Tenure-Track-Like Models (TTLMs), led by Emma Day, which examined how national systems can adopt tenure-track approaches within existing legal and administrative frameworks. This aspect aligns with recent EU Council recommendations to strengthen researcher career paths.
Despite the progress made, Norbert Bencze from EuroDoc pointed out the ongoing challenge of precarity and the lack of mobility between career paths. He highlighted the need for researchers to better communicate the value of their work to society.
One of the pilot institutions, Nova University Lisbon, has already taken steps to address these issues. Isabel Rocha shared that the university has developed a strategic plan to reduce career precarity, leveraging insights from the SECURE project to drive ongoing reforms.
The project has also produced practical implementation tools for pilot organisations looking to enhance research career prospects. Gordon J. Dalton, SECURE Coordinator from PLOCAN, noted that the project could serve as a blueprint for 10 future initiatives involving around 50 pilot organisations set to trial the framework from June 2025 onwards.
Reflecting on the final event, Silvia Gomez Recio, Secretary General of Yerun, expressed satisfaction with the collaborative discussions and the commitment of university members to continue improving research career systems.
The SECURE project has set the foundation for long-term improvements in researcher career development, offering sustainable solutions to challenges faced across Europe.
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