Babeș-Bolyai University has obtained the renewal of the HR Excellence in Research Award

The European Commission renewed the HR Excellence in Research Award granted to Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB) in 2018. The renewal was announced on 20 July 2026, following an extensive assessment process involving university leadership, working groups, academic and research staff, administrative services, and support personnel. UBB received the renewal with the highest assessment rating and without conditionalities.

Since the previous assessment and renewal, UBB has made significant progress across several institutional areas, including the further strengthening of its research ethics and integrity framework.

A Research Ethics Subcommittee has been established within the UBB Ethics Committee to support the implementation of research ethics policies, including research integrity, conflict-of-interest management, fraud prevention, and good research practices.

UBB also introduced Guidelines for the responsible use of AI in academic writing, providing clearer standards for the use of emerging technologies in academic work. The university strenghthened its commitment in implementing DEI requirements by updating its Gender Equality Guide and expanding its Guide to Combating Discrimination, including provisions on moral and sexual harassment, xenophobia, radicalization, and hate speech.

In addition, the university ombudsperson was restructured as an independent function, strengthening impartial mediation and support in cases involving maladministration or interpersonal conflicts.

Together, these measures demonstrate BBU’s continued commitment to research integrity, accountability, non-discrimination, professional conduct, and a responsible academic environment.

Babeș-Bolyai is one of only three Romanian universities which have succesfully passed through the entire cycle of HR for Excellence in Research granting and periodical renewing. It underlines UBB’s commitment to excellence in research, promoting the ERA values and the ResearchComp framework in permanently upgrading the quality of its own personnel.

 

Links

Babeș-Bolyai University obtains the renewal of the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research distinction: https://news.ubbcluj.ro/noutati/universitatea-babes-bolyai-obtine-reinnoirea-distinctiei-comisiei-europene-hr-excellence-in-research-excelenta-resursei-umane-in-cercetare/

NextTechTalents: www.nexttechtalents.eu

Keywords

Excellence, European Commision, research ethics, ERA, ResearchComp, DEI, gender, UBB