With the arrival of spring, the yearly Development cycle conversations at EUR are kicking off. The Development cycle was fully updated and launched across EUR in 2024. It now focuses less on quantifying your performance by checking the boxes, and rather on narrative reflection with a focus on development in relation to achievements.
This change has a strong connection with the aims of the Recognition & Rewards (R&R) programme. For example, with the R&R goal of putting more emphasis on quality rather than only on the quantity of academic work. The Development cycle supports this by offering an opportunity to have an open and productive conversation with your supervisor about your journey, talents, and ambitions as an employee, based on your achievements.
While creating the narratives, employees look back, look forward, and reflect on their wellbeing. This provides a more complete, holistic view of the past year. In addition, there is now also specific attention for future career development by using the box "looking forward". In this box, you are expected to describe your expected activities, achievements, and developments for the upcoming year. You are challenged to connect this to your future goals and the direction you want to take, and it allows you to actively discuss a possible preference for a specific accent in your career path (for academic staff). This way, the narrative brings the benefit of being able to present your work and contributions, who you are and where your strengths lie in a clear and cohesive way.
However, we do understand that it might be challenging and new to have a narrative-based yearly conversation with your supervisor. It might feel like a time investment to write a narrative reflection, and uncertain or uncomfortable to focus on development angle. To support employees in working with this narrative approach and to foster narrative writing skills, the R&R team created several tools that can help prepare for the Development conversation:
- Narrative writing guide for academics
- Narrative reading guide for supervisors
- Instruction videos for writing narratives
- Academic Activities Catalogue
EUR also offers a development toolkit with many informative videos, e-trainings, and advice that will help you feel prepared for your Development conversation. Almost all academic staff members have already experienced the Development cycle at their School, and these tools can support employees in feeling more confident and comfortable in preparing for their conversation. If you have questions about the information and tools shared here, please feel free to reach out to the R&R team or the HR Business Partner or Advisor of your School.
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Erasmus University Rotterdam is modernising its system for recognising and rewarding academic staff to create more room for diverse academic talents and better enable employees to contribute to the university's mission of creating positive societal impact. That is why EUR kicked off the Recognition & Rewards programme in 2020.
Curious what R&R means for you or your School? Get in touch with the R&R contact person for your school or reach out to the Recognition & Rewards team directly via recognitionandrewards@eur.nl.
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