Ghent University approves new career policy for research staff

On 1 February 2019, the Board of Governors of Ghent University approved the new regulations for research staff (WP), that improve the contract regulations, and offer a supplementary pension to all WP in line with market practice. With these new regulations, that take effect on 1 April 2019, Ghent University is once again setting new standards for one of its staff categories, after the recent launch of a new evaluation and promotion model for professorial staff. "I am convinced that this new HR policy will empower our research staff as well as Ghent University itself. Together with the vice-rector, I am committed to continuing to build a university that appreciates and empowers motivated staff members, allows their talent to develop and stimulates excellence." (Rector Rik Van de Walle) The key points of the new policy were approved on 6 July 2018. Over the past few months, the staff of the Department of Personnel and Organization (DPO) has been working hard on new regulations to make this policy concrete and workable for both the research staff member and the supervisor. "On behalf of the vice-rector and myself, I would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to the many colleagues who have contributed to this." (Rector Rik Van de Walle) Starting from a global HR vision which goes beyond the staff categories, the new policy for WP has been aligned as much as possible with the principles of the renewed career model for professorial staff, which is based on trust in and the personal and professional strengths of our academic staff