OTM-R UGR

UGR's Open, Transparent and Merit-based Recruitment Policy (OTM-R)

The UGR has implemented an OTM-R Policy [en mayúscula] to ensure that research staff selection processes are open, transparent and merit-based, without penalizing career breaks or non-linear trajectories. The aim of our OTM-R Policy is to work in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Charter and the Code.

Although the first OTM-R policy of the UGR dates back to 2019, the update of the same, which was first approved by the HRS4R Award Working Group and, subsequently, dated June 23, 2025, at the institutional level. It establishes the essential steps for the recruitment of researchers from offer to appointment. This policy considers a wide range of evaluation criteria, including publications, teaching, supervision, teamwork, knowledge transfer, international mobility experience and awareness activities. Our OTM-R Policy establishes, in chronological order, the essential steps for the recruitment of researchers at the University of Granada, from the offer and application phase, through the selection process, to the appointment of candidates.

Open, transparent and merit-based recruitment processes (OTM-R) ensure that people with the most suitable profile for a given position are recruited, thus achieving greater equality, improving the competitiveness of national research systems and strengthening international collaboration and cooperation. OTM-R is now one of the main priorities of the European Research Area (ERA) and one of the cornerstones of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

Code of Good Practice in Research

As a research-driven institution, the University of Granada is firmly committed to promoting an environment that acknowledges and supports research excellence. Crucial to this goal is the duty to uphold the highest possible standards of quality, integrity and academic freedom in our research activities. In short, the University vows to safeguard the research ethics and principles laid down in the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, as well as the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation Law (Ley 14/2011, de 1 de junio, de la Ciencia, la Tecnología y la Innovación).

Research ethics are defined as a combination of values, rules and regulations that support the development and improvement of research activities. They are based on a set of guiding principles that lead to the establishment of specific good practices, which we have compiled through the creation of our Code of Good Practice in Research.

This Code sets out an overarching framework for good research conduct and governance. It applies to all disciplines and establishes the responsibilities expected of all those who are engaged in research at the University of Granada, including doctoral candidates, lecturers, professors and visiting staff. Specifically, it covers the following areas: 

• Honesty
• Accountability
• Rigour 
• Conflicts of interest
• Research misconduct and unacceptable practices
• The Research Ethics Committee

Guide for International Researchers

In 2019, our Working Group for the HRS4R strategy developed a comprehensive guide for international researchers (available in Spanish and English). This Guide is designed to assist researchers from all over the world and their families with the relocation process to Granada and the development of their careers at the UGR. It offers a detailed overview of the research landscape in Granada and covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Working conditions at the UGR
• Social security and welfare
• How to obtain an invitation letter from the UGR
• Labor regulations and legislation
• The International Welcome Centre (IWC)
• Visas and residency permits
• Healthcare and insurance
• Taxes
• Recognition of qualifications
• Professional development
• Entrepreneurship
• Accommodation options
• Family and schooling matters
• Banking procedures
• Funding opportunities
• A compilation of UGR services
• Information about Granada (cost of living, local customs, accessibility, etc.

Career Development at the UGR

The University of Granada supports the career development of its researchers both within and outside academia, including alternatives in private enterprise, entrepreneurship and professional mobility. The Career Development Plan (CDP), approved at institutional level on June 23, 2025, is a fundamental tool that provides comprehensive information on the various career paths in research.

Complementary tools: