Background
University of Luxembourg is the only university in the country, founded on 13 August 2003. Prior to that there were several higher educational institutions such as the cour universitaire or the IST that offered one or two years of academic studies. Students from Luxembourg had to go abroad in order to complete their studies at a university (usually to Belgium France Germany Austria and the United Kingdom). The new university makes it possible for these students to complete their studies in their own country as well as attract foreign academic interest to Luxembourg. Like Luxembourg itself the studies at the University of Luxembourg are characterised by their multilingualism.
The Brief
The University of Luxembourg wanted to drive improvements in staff professional development through the development and implementation of new strategic Human Resources (HR) systems including a grading system and a new remuneration scheme.
Our approach
The overall aim of the project was to support the University of Luxembourg as they developed a new strategic HR system. Together Luxembourg staff and the HEA conducted site visits to four leading UK university HR departments, drawing on their expertise and exploring their current HR systems and approaches.
Inspired by these visits the University of Luxembourg’s HR team with support from the HEA produced a HR Strategic Development action plan. This plan was presented and implemented by the University Rectorate with additional guidance from the HEA.
Outcomes
The new HR Strategic Development action plan was approved by the University of Luxembourg’s Rectorate in January 2015. The HEA is continuing to work with the HR team providing expert advice and guidance.