UNITA sustainable policies for students and staff

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This Task aims at joint action to establish well developed and flexible student and staff policies at partner and alliance level, to formulate ambitious and reachable well-being, inclusion and equity, career development, organizational innovation and student cooperation. The Task partially relies on the achievements of phase one, notably the HRS4RHuman Resources Strategy for Researchers certificate ongoing exercise in the RE-UNITA project. The Task will implement initiatives for staff and students to strengthen their commitment in developing new ideas and playing an active role in the alliance. Task activities roadmap A2.1.1 Outline student and staff policies throughout the alliance (M1-M11): introduce the new partners to the achievements and lessons learned from RE-UNITA (M2). Map our institutional policies, charters, documentation, etc. as well as our needs to identify common priorities and standards. Collect and share standard and innovative student and staff policies. Make a synopsis of similar and complementary practices to detect potential of synergies and joint actions. Draft, discuss and adopt the UNITA alliance student and staff policies’ strategy and action plan at partner and alliance level, aiming at measurable increases in 5 fields: 1) student and staff well-being 2) inclusion and gender equity, 3) staff training, career, and leadership development within the alliance, 4) intra- and extra-entrepreneurship and 5) connecting students’ organisations and initiatives. A2.1.2 Promote student and staff well-being (M12-M48): create a specific working and studying conditions working group in charge of implementing a PDCA (plan-do-check-act) cycle by surveying and proposing actions to improve the study, research and work environments, the occupational health well-being and safety for students and staff. Build a common model of Well-being in UNITA universities and implement some actions of it in each university. Communication plan to develop and promote the interventions at each University. Each year a meeting will be organised, four overall. Conduct a survey on the well-being of staff at the beginning and at the end of the project and measure the degree of satisfaction and criticalities of students and staff. A2.1.3 Promote inclusion and gender equity (M12-M48): create a UNITA Inclusion and Gender Equity Plan (UIGEP) based on similar plans existing in each University and on the outcomes of the WP3 RE- UNITA project developed in the first stage. It will be harmonised with the European Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. The universities should share experiences about their strategic plans and the tools they use for their implementation and disseminate the results to the academic community. One meeting per year will be organised to promote inclusion and gender equity. A2.1.4 Foster staff training and career development (M12-M48): organise a leadership course for the university managing staff (Vice-Rectors and Deputies, Heads of Departments and Faculties, Service Directors, Offices Heads) to drive universities towards a better change management capability. The program focuses on giving to the University leaders guidelines and competencies to improve decision-making, change management and communication. A working group will be set up to define the common UNITA leadership model and how to adapt it in each University, considering the specific existing organisation and national rules. One meeting per year will be organised to monitor the progress. A2.1.5 Facilitate organisational innovation through intra-entrepreneurship and management development (M12-M48): promote organisational innovation from within the universities, by encouraging staff and students to take an active role in the development of new ideas and decision-making, aiming at re-engineering the management processes. This will improve motivation and commitment, as well as increase creativity and entrepreneurial spirit within UNITA universities. Define organizational innovation models in UNITA universities, with a focus on the areas of Human Resources and services and elaborate an instrument to evaluate it. Build an action plan based on a diagnosis of the level of innovation in each University. Following the outcomes of the first phase of UNITA regarding the management of the Alliance, in particular about the models of recognition of mobility for staff, we will promote meetings among the HR managers and offices heads to disseminate and implement the organisational innovation model and the action plan. One meeting per year will be organised. A2.1.6 Connect students’ organisations and initiatives (M12-M48): support the organisation of meetings of the Student Assembly and students’ organisations to encourage the proposal of projects for the improvement of students’ life. A part of the Budget of the Student Assembly will be dedicated to a joint project to support the student’s associations inside the Alliance. Develop the association’s ideas, share knowledge, share best practices in student organisations