Aalto University has held the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research Award since 2012. The Award recognises our long-term commitment to implementing the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and to continuously developing our policies and practices for researchers.
The renewed European Charter for Researchers provides the common European framework for attractive and sustainable research careers and covers areas such as working conditions, equality and inclusion, researcher assessment, career development and mobility.
The European framework defining the principles for attractive research careers and supportive research environments.
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/hrexcellenceaward/european-charter-researchers
Our strategic development themes, concrete actions, responsibilities and indicators for the current strategy period.
https://www.aalto.fi/sites/default/files/2026-09/Aalto-HR-Excellence-action-plan-2026-2029_v2.pdf
Our commitment and principles for open, transparent and merit-based recruitment of researchers.
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Our latest self-assessment of progress in implementing the Charter principles and developing the research environment at Aalto.
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The principles of the European Charter for Researchers are embedded in Aalto University's policies, practices and services throughout the researcher journey. HR Excellence in Research is therefore not a separate initiative but part of our continuous development of research careers, recruitment and assessment, working conditions, competence development and the research environment.
Please notice that Aalto login is required for some services.
We support researchers in conducting responsible, ethical, open and sustainable research while safeguarding academic freedom and an inclusive research culture.
Responsible conduct of research, ethical review and research integrity guidance.
Principles and guidance for open access, research data and responsible openness.
Our principles, development priorities and resources for an inclusive Aalto community.
Guidance for responsible international collaboration, export control, sanctions and research security.
Explore career paths and positions for professors, lecturers and other academic staff.
Aalto University’s tenure track career system offers a well-supported and clear career path for professor-level academics towards a permanent professorship.
Aalto lecturer career system is intended primarily for individuals conducting teaching. The lecturer career system supports individual development and career advancement through clear principles and systematic evaluation criteria and allows Aalto teachers and lecturers to advance in their careers with teaching-focused merits. Teachers and lecturers have the opportunity to advance within the career system, from the university teacher level to the university lecturer level, and further to the position of a senior university lecturer and principal university lecturer. This page contains principles of the lecturer career system, levels in lecturer career system, generic time allocation in lecturer career levels as well as descriptions of recruitment and advancement processes.
This page describes other academic positions than tenure track professor and lecturer positions. Here you will also find official policies and procedures for other academic positions as well as instructions on how to appoint a docent.
Aalto's commitment and principles for fair, transparent and merit-based researcher recruitment.
Find information about Aalto's recruitment processes and selection practices.
Principles and commitments supporting fair and holistic assessment of researchers
Guidance for ensuring impartial and responsible decision-making in recruitment and assessment.
Guidance and support for new employees, researchers and academic staff.
Information for international candidates and employees about Finnish working life and society.
Practical guidance for employees moving to Finland and their receiving units.
Aalto employees have access to occupational health care, wellbeing services and support for work ability and early support. Aalto login required for some services.
Principles and support for respectful interaction, inclusion and psychological safety.
Explore Aalto's academic positions and career systems.
Training and development opportunities support continuous learning throughout your career.
Aalto offers mentoring and coaching to support career development, leadership and wellbeing.
Our development priorities 2026–2030
Based on our HRS4R self-assessment, researcher feedback, staff surveys and changes in the operating environment, Aalto University has identified three broad strategic development themes for 2026–2030.
Each theme is implemented through several concrete actions with defined responsibilities and indicators. Together, these actions support the continued implementation of the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and complement the established policies and practices that Aalto continues to maintain and develop.
We aim to strengthen inclusive leadership, psychological safety, community engagement and support for academic teams.
Actions:
We aim to provide a seamless and welcoming journey from arrival to full integration into the Aalto community, Finnish working life and society.
Actions:
We aim to support sustainable working conditions, manageable workloads, wellbeing and researchers' ability to build meaningful and sustainable careers at Aalto.
Actions:
Read the full HR Excellence Action Plan 2026–2030
[link]
Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment (OTM-R) at Aalto University
Aalto University is committed to open, transparent and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) in accordance with the European Charter for Researchers.
Open, transparent and merit-based recruitment supports Aalto University's ability to attract and recruit excellent researchers from Finland and internationally, promotes equal opportunities and mobility, and contributes to a diverse and inclusive academic community.
Our recruitment and career advancement policies and practices are designed to ensure that candidates are treated fairly and consistently and that recruitment decisions are based on relevant merits and a holistic assessment of candidates against clearly defined criteria.
Read the full Aalto OTM-R statement [link]
Continuous development and monitoring
HR Excellence in Research is part of Aalto University's continuous development and quality management.
Progress is monitored through Aalto's established management and quality processes and through a combination of quantitative and qualitative information, including wellbeing surveys, onboarding and integration data, EDI indicators, participation data, researcher interviews and other stakeholder feedback.
Researchers and other members of the Aalto community contribute to development through surveys, interviews, workshops, staff networks, representative bodies and other consultation and feedback channels. The results are used to identify development needs, assess the effectiveness of actions and guide further development.
Human Resource Services support your work and managerial duties at Aalto. We are available to help at every stage of the employment relationship. On this page you can find links to employment related information and contact information of the HR Services.
Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We are an international community of 20,000 bold thinkers who shape a sustainable future with education, research breakthroughs and innovative ideas and solutions. Join us in changing the world – we have many attractive career opportunities to offer.
