Commitment to excellence and the professional development of research talent
The Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) places the professional development of its research staff and the quality of their working environment at the heart of its strategy.
Within this framework, the Institute is implementing the European Commission’s HR Award (HRS4R), incorporating the principles of The European Charter & Code for Researchers into its policies.
Widely adopted across the European Research Area, this initiative provides a common framework for improving human resources practices, promoting training, professional development and researcher mobility.
Through this commitment, VHIO strengthens a working environment that supports scientific excellence, talent attraction and professional growth.
In October 2017, VHIO received the “HR Excellence in Research” recognition following a favourable evaluation of its analysis and action plan, reinforcing its alignment with European research standards.
OUR HRS4R JOURNEY
2017, Launch and endorsement
- 29 March: Internal validation of the project by the Executive Committee.
- 10 April: Launch of the initial assessment through a survey of 130 researchers.
- 8 May: Approval of the project by the Board of Trustees.
- 13 June: Establishment of the HRS4R Committee, with multidisciplinary representation.
- 14 June: Endorsement of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.
- 25 July: Approval of the Gap Analysis, Action Plan, Extended Action Plan and OTM-R policy.
- 27 July: Submission of the application for HR Excellence in Research recognition to the European Commission.
- 9 October: Award of HR Excellence in Research recognition.
2018–2020, Evaluation and review
- February 2018: External evaluation by the European Commission through the Consensus Report: accepted with minor modifications.
- Consolidation of the HR Excellence in Research recognition.
- 2020: Review and update of the HRS4R Action Plan.
2023–2026, Current action plan
- 2023: Review and consolidation of previous action plans.
- 2023–2026: Implementation of the current HRS4R Action Plan, with new actions aimed at continuously improving human resources policies and practices for researchers.
- On-site Visit: On 19 June, VHIO welcomed the HRS4R (Human Resources Strategy for Researchers) assessors to review progress on our current Action Plan. Throughout the day, we also organized working sessions and focus groups involving the assessors and researchers, providing opportunities to share experiences, exchange views and identify further areas for improvement.
- OTM-R policy: Following the HRS4R assessors’ visit to VHIO, the OTM-R policy has been reviewed, expanded and updated, incorporating improvements and providing more detailed procedures and criteria governing recruitment processes.
- October 2026: Assessment of the extent to which the actions have been implemented and preparation for the next phase of the HRS4R process.
The Open, Transparent and Merit-Based Recruitment (OTM-R) policy is one of the fundamental pillars of the HRS4R strategy and reflects VHIO’s commitment to open, transparent, fair and merit-based recruitment processes. It aims to ensure equal opportunities, attract talent and establish clear criteria and procedures that support objective, high-quality selection.
Following the HRS4R assessors’ visit to VHIO, the OTM-R policy has been reviewed, expanded and updated, incorporating improvements and setting out the procedures and criteria governing recruitment processes in greater detail. This update reinforces the institution’s commitment to continuous improvement, transparency and the application of the Charter & Code principles in recruitment practices.
The Steering Committee and the Working Group are two key bodies in the governance of the HRS4R strategy at VHIO. Their role is to ensure the effective implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of actions linked to the Charter & Code principles, encouraging participation across different professional roles and areas of the institution.
The Steering Committee is responsible for strategic oversight, providing guidance, validating key decisions and ensuring that HRS4R objectives are aligned with institutional priorities. The Working Group has a more operational role, contributing to the identification of needs, the development and monitoring of the Action Plan, and proposals for improvement.
Both bodies have a multidisciplinary membership designed to ensure representation across VHIO’s different areas and professional roles.
The VHIO Academy was stablished in 2021 to promote training, professional development and research careers within VHIO. Since then, it has become an stablished resource supporting researchers at different stages of their careers, offering opportunities for learning, skills development and career guidance.
The VHIO Academy combines specialized scientific training with the development of transferable and professional skills, alongside initiatives in mentoring, career development and wellbeing. It aims to support researchers’ scientific growth while providing tools to help them advance their careers and address the challenges of research.
Its initiatives include, for example:
- VHIO PhD Program, providing tailored training and support for predoctoral researchers, with a focus on transferable skills such as communication, RRI, creativity and problem-solving.
- Postdoctoral TrainingProgram, supporting the professional development and career progression of postdoctoral researchers.
- Advanced Scientific Training, providing technical skills training for the entire VHIO research community.
- Mentoring, facilitating guidance and the exchange of experiences between researchers at different career stages.
- Scientific Seminars, encouraging knowledge exchange, collaboration and networking within VHIO’s scientific community.
- VHIO Academy Moodle, providing a platform to support training and access to learning resources.
Through these initiatives, the VHIO Academy helps build a culture of continuous learning and professional development, reinforcing VHIO’s commitment to research talent and to creating an environment that supports growth and scientific excellence.
The Talent and Development Unit was established in 2024 to drive a comprehensive strategy for attracting, developing and retaining talent at VHIO, placing people and their professional development at the centre of the organisation.
Since its creation, the Unit has worked to improve the staff experience throughout their careers at VHIO, developing and implementing tools, processes and initiatives that address the needs of both staff and the organisation. This has also included initiatives to improve, digitalise and automate processes, supporting more agile, efficient and people-centred management.
One of its main areas of activity is professional and skills development. In recent years, the training plan for transferable skills has been strengthened, expanding the range of programmes focused on interpersonal and professional skills (soft skills), leadership and team management. Individual support initiatives, such as coaching programmes, have also been introduced to foster professional growth and help people fulfil their potential.
The Unit also promotes initiatives to strengthen staff wellbeing, engagement and experience at VHIO, introducing new employee benefits and wellbeing activities that help create a healthy, inclusive and sustainable working environment.
Through these areas of activity, the Talent and Development Unit plays a key role in implementing the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) at VHIO, translating its principles into concrete policies and practices for people management and development. Its contribution focuses particularly on promoting open, transparent and merit-based recruitment and selection processes (OTM-R), alongside professional development, continuous training and career support. In doing so, the Unit helps consolidate an environment that attracts, develops and retains talent, promotes opportunities for learning and growth throughout people’s careers, and recognizes the contribution of the diverse professional roles that make VHIO’s mission possible.
Knowledge dissemination and exchange are part of VHIO’s strategic research model. Through institutional initiatives that provide support and promote participation, the Institute organizes seminars, round-table discussions and other activities that encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange across its scientific community.
A prominent example is the VHIO–CaixaResearch Scientific Seminar Series, in which nationally and internationally renowned speakers share and discuss the latest knowledge, discoveries and advances in oncology. These seminars are also open to professionals from outside VHIO, fostering interaction and knowledge exchange with the wider scientific and professional community.
Since the series was launched in 2019, more than 30 seminars have been held, with over 1,700 professionals taking part. Each session typically includes a 30–45-minute presentation, followed by questions and discussion with the audience.
Sessions are moderated by the VHIO researcher hosting the speaker and are usually held on Fridays.
The VHIO International PhD Program was established to attract and train international research talent, offering promising young researchers the opportunity to develop their scientific careers in an environment of excellence in oncology research.
Researchers recruited through this call join a dynamic scientific environment and benefit from training in transferable and technical skills, as well as access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, conferences and seminars, and social activities that foster cohesion within VHIO’s predoctoral community.
The program reflects VHIO’s commitment to attracting and developing talent, promoting scientific excellence and creating an environment in which researchers can fulfil their potential.
As part of VHIO’s commitment to continuous learning and the professional development of its community, the Moodle-based VHIO Academy Learning Platform has been implemented as a centralized hub for managing training and facilitating access to it.
The platform brings together a broad range of training opportunities for different career stages and professional roles within the VHIO community. These include PhD programs and courses, scientific training, transferable skills and clinical training, as well as mandatory training for new staff joining the Institute. This covers topics such as equality and diversity, cybersecurity, occupational health and safety, and other key aspects of professional activity at VHIO.
The platform provides flexible, structured and accessible access to VHIO’s main learning opportunities, helping to strengthen a culture of continuous training, talent development and excellence.
The Brainstorming Seminars (formerly known as Benchstorming Seminars) offer VHIO’s predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers an opportunity to present their work and receive feedback from the wider scientific community. The initiative aims to encourage the exchange of knowledge, ideas and scientific interests among researchers from the Institute’s different research programs.
Since their launch in February 2016, these seminars have provided an informal, participatory setting in which to share research directions, learn about work underway in other groups and programs, and build connections that may lead to new collaborations.
The sessions are specifically designed to promote an open, dynamic and participatory environment that encourages freedom of thought, dialogue, interaction and the exchange of ideas between speakers and participants. Beyond presenting scientific results, the seminars provide a space where researchers can share perspectives, ask questions and contribute actively to scientific debate.
In this way, the Brainstorming Seminars help strengthen a culture of collaboration, learning across disciplines and connection within VHIO. They encourage exchange between research areas and give early-career researchers an opportunity to develop their scientific communication skills, expand their internal networks and participate actively in the Institute’s scientific community.
- Fundación BBVA–Severo Ochoa–VHIO International Master’s Internship Program.
- VHIO International PhD Program.
- Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera–VHIO MD–PhD Fellowship.
