The SECURE Project: Shaping Sustainable Research Careers - MCAA Magazine March 2025

The research landscape is at a pivotal moment. While scientific advancement propels innovation and societal growth, the real-life experience of many researchers is marked by uncertainty and instability. The Sustainable Careers for Researcher Empowerment (SECURE) project, an initiative funded by Horizon Europe, is stepping in to directly tackle this challenge by creating a comprehensive Research Career Framework (RCF), aimed at enhancing career sustainability across Europe. Implemented by a consortium of eighteen organisations, including active involvement from the MCAA, SECURE is set to reshape research career structures and foster a more supportive and stable environment for researchers.

A Fresh Vision for Research Careers

At the heart of SECURE’s mission is the commitment to develop, test, and implement a unified RCF. This framework is more than a set of guidelines; it provides practical tools for institutions to refine their management of researchers, addressing key areas such as recruitment, employment, training, career development, and mobility. By mitigating precarity and nurturing a dynamic research ecosystem, SECURE strives to establish long-lasting, fulfilling career paths for researchers.

Structured around seven interconnected work packages (WPs), SECURE embraces a collaborative approach:

WP1: State-of-the-art on Research Careers

WP2: Drafting the common Research Career Framework.

WP3: Developing a flexible tenure- track-like model (TTLM).

WP4: Implementation of the Research Career Framework

WP5: Mainstreaming the Research Career Framework

WP6: Project Coordination and Data Management

WP7: Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation

SECURE has the potential to revolutionize Europe’s research landscape

Aligning with European Policy

SECURE began its journey with a thorough literature review on researcher careers and tenure- track models. A major milestone was the release of the EU Council Recommendation on attracting and retaining research talent in December 2023. SECURE promptly integrated these insights, aligning its efforts with evolving European research policies. By leveraging established tools like the ESCO classification and the revised EU Charter for Researchers, the project is firmly rooted in recognized frameworks.

Crafting a Comprehensive Research Career Framework

The development of the RCF in WP2 has been a dynamic, iterative endeavor. The team scrutinized the 44 recommendations from the EU Council document, evaluating their applicability for Research Performing Organizations (RPOs) and Research Funding Organizations (RFOs), while organisations such as the MCAA added the perspectives of individual researchers. Key questions guided their exploration: How do these recommendations align with the Charter? How can they alleviate career precarity? What challenges exist in implementation?

Through collaboration with pilot institutions in WP4 and feedback from a survey conducted with researchers, the SECURE team refined its strategy. The second draft of the RCF now comprises around 80 actionable items organized into eight thematic areas: Interoperability, Conditions, Development, Mobility, Assessment, Contracts (TTLM), Pathways, and Governance. This structured “shopping list” empowers institutions and researchers to choose actions tailored to their specific needs.

Building a Flexible and Inclusive
Tenure Track-like Model

WP3 delves into the intricacies of tenure-track systems across Europe, acknowledging that a universal solution is not feasible given the diverse national laws, institutional structures, and funding mechanisms at play. Instead, SECURE has pinpointed the fundamental principles that are essential for effective TTLMs: stability, transparency, competitive and inclusive recruitment, fair compensation, professional development, and responsible evaluation. By centring on these shared principles, the framework remains adaptable across varied research environments.

Driving Adoption and Empowering Researchers

To achieve the widespread adoption of the RCF, WP5 is dedicated to developing mainstreaming strategies. While institutions are crucial players, it is equally important for researchers to be empowered advocates for sustainable career structures. SECURE’s “shopping list” serves as a resource for both institutions and researchers’ organizations, encouraging collaborative support at both institutional and national levels.

The MCAA has played a critical role in these initiatives, actively participating in discussions and promoting the outcomes of SECURE. During its annual conference, MCAA hosted a focused session on mainstreaming project findings, ensuring that the research community’s voice informs policy implementation. Additionally, specific instructions for researchers on how to navigate the new framework are under development.

A Sustainable Future for Research Careers

The SECURE project represents a crucial step in addressing the structural challenges that researchers encounter. By fostering collaboration, defining universally applicable principles, and equipping researchers with the tools necessary to advocate for improved career conditions, SECURE has the potential to revolutionize Europe’s research landscape. MCAA’s involvement ensures that the voices of researchers remain integral to these advancements, fostering impactful change in the future of research careers.

Through SECURE, Europe is laying the groundwork for a more sustainable, inclusive, and vibrant research environment— one where researchers can thrive, innovate, and drive the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow.

Mostafa Moonir Shawrav

MCAA Executive Director
mostafa.shawrav@mariecuriealumni.eu
@mmshawrav
shawrav
0000-0001-8639-0393

Sara Pilia

SECURE project, Project officer
0000-0001-8221-3082