Aurora

Since its launch in 2013 more than 8,300 women from nearly 200 different institutions across the UK and Ireland have participated in Aurora.

Led by a team of leadership experts, participants will explore four key areas associated with leadership success: Identity, Impact & Voice, Core Leadership, Politics & Influence and Adaptive Leadership Skills.

Aurora 2022-23 dates and prices

View our 2022-23 cohort dates and prices.

Who is Aurora for?

Aurora is for women, up to senior lecturer level or the professional services equivalent, working in a university, college or related organisation who would like to develop and explore issues relating to leadership roles and responsibilities. Participants should have the endorsement of their institution (either their Aurora Champion, Human Resource department or line manager) and be committed to developing and enhancing their career.

Aurora has had a huge impact for Brunel. It has highlighted our commitment to gender equality and ensuring women have the opportunity to apply for more senior positions in the organisation and that we want them to stay, grow and develop with us. Aurora has helped our participants to maximise their talents and develop leadership skills and acumen. Several have succeeded in advancing their careers, either through promotion or by attaining new leadership roles."

Professor Lorraine De Souza, Aurora champion, Pro-Vice Chancellor (equality, diversity and staff development), Brunel University London

How does Aurora work?

With a number of cohorts running regionally online, the Aurora programme is a mix of development days and action learning sets. Participants are also supported by mentors from their institution.

Participants will be asked to:

attend the introduction webinar which will introduce the aims and objectives of Aurora along with an inspirational guest speaker
attend each of the four development days, and the two action learning set days
undertake self-directed learning throughout Aurora, aligned with development interests
commit to working with a mentor who is provided by their institution
be prepared to access leadership opportunities and champion for change.

Find out more about how Aurora works

Aurora 2022-23 cohort dates

All bookings on Aurora must be made through or with the permission of your institutions Aurora Champion. You can find your institution's champion through our Aurora champion directory.

View the Aurora champion directory

Aurora 2022-23 cohort dates and prices

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Aurora and your institution

Institutions are responsible for coordinating Aurora within their organisation, providing mentors for their participants and supporting participants to attend the development days and their action learning sets. In each institution, Aurora is led by an Aurora champion.

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Aurora - The Longitudinal Study

Our five-year longitudinal study of Aurora participants tracks the careers and aspirations of women working in higher education.