The Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute (IDIVAL) continues to make progress in consolidating the European Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R), incorporating key improvements into its Action Plan and reinforcing its alignment with the recommendations of the European evaluation team.
Following the latest meeting of the HRS4R working group and the joint review of the contributions received, IDIVAL has integrated a series of final changes both in the response report and in the updated Action Plan, which will be submitted through the HRS4R e-tool platform in the coming days and published on the institutional website.
Improvements incorporated into the updated Action Plan
The updated Action Plan includes new measures aimed at strengthening IDIVAL’s internationalisation, transparency and institutional positioning as an employer within the European Research Area.
A new employer branding action is introduced, including the systematic translation into English of strategic documentation, the development of an institutional dossier aimed at national and international talent, and the bilingual dissemination of job offers on European platforms. The number of translated documents, active campaigns and international applications received will be monitored.
An annual mechanism for analysing staff departures is established, allowing the identification of reasons for disengagement and the proposal of retention measures linked to professional development, contractual stability, mentoring and recognition.
The systematisation and dissemination of the services offered by the Projects Unit is incorporated, through a structured portfolio, activity indicators and periodic communication actions.
The implementation of a centralised dashboard for monitoring the HRS4R Plan, facilitating decision-making and transparency of progress.
An OTM-R FAQ document in English will be developed for applicants, improving the clarity of selection processes and access to relevant information.
The visibility of the IDIVAL–Hospital–University ecosystem will be strengthened, and the structure of the institutional website will be reviewed to increase the accessibility of key content and its availability in English.
These improvements consolidate IDIVAL’s positioning and enhance the experience of both applicants and research staff, addressing key aspects identified by the evaluation team during its latest visit as part of the renewal process for the “HR Excellence in Research” award.
An institutional session within the Santander Biomedical Lectures
As part of this update and alignment process with the HRS4R Strategy, IDIVAL will hold a new session of the Santander Biomedical Lectures on Thursday, December 18, entitled “HRS4R at IDIVAL: Science, Management and Talent for the European Future.”
The session will be delivered by IDIVAL’s Scientific Director, Marcos López Hoyos, and its Managing Director, Galo Peralta Fernández, and will focus on the aforementioned update of the Action Plan.
The event will take place at the Téllez Plasencia Hall (Pavilion 16) of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital on Thursday, December 18 at 08:15 a.m. Attendance is free and does not require prior registration, until capacity is reached.
IDIVAL’s 2025–2028 Action Plan can be consulted on the website, and the session represents an opportunity to share with the IDIVAL community the progress made, the changes introduced and the future challenges ahead in science, management and research talent development.
