Following the previous communication regarding reductions in funding for the Aurora leadership programme, we received valuable feedback from our community, which prompted a comprehensive review of our approach.

I would like to extend our thanks to Debra Parsons, Claire Pond-Barrett, and Rachel Hogg for leading this important review. Their work highlighted that while Aurora remains an important leadership development opportunity, it does not fully meet all leadership development needs across our Institution.

As a result, for 2025/26 we will continue to fund the Aurora programme, expanding eligibility to include colleagues at Grade 6 within Professional Services, aligning with the approach taken by other universities. However, we will be reducing the cohort size to 8 participants. This change will allow us to retain a funding pot to trial alternative leadership development programmes to better meet diverse needs. We will be exploring these options in collaboration with our Women’s Staff Networks in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your continued support in encouraging and enabling colleagues to engage with leadership development opportunities.

If you have any questions about this update or future plans, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Abi Phillips, who has coordinated this review. — Richard Brooks, Director of HR

Aurora is Advance HE's leadership development initiative for women. Since its launch in 2013, more than 15,000 women from over 200 different institutions across the UK and Republic of Ireland have participated in Aurora.

It is run as a unique partnership bringing together leadership experts, higher education providers and research institutes to take positive action to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions in the sector.

The programme is led by a team of leadership experts and participants will explore four key areas associated with leadership success: Identity, Impact & Voice, Core Leadership, Politics & Influence and Adaptive Leadership Skills. This is in addition to action learning sets.

The programme is a mix of development days and action learning sets and participants will be supported by mentors from the University. For 2025/26, the programme will be online, with a face-to-face event and cohorts will be formed from institutions across a geographical region in order to build the networks that have been a valuable feature of the face-to-face events.

Participants will be asked to:

• Attend the introduction session which will introduce the aims and objectives of Aurora
• Attend each of the four development days, the two action learning set days and the final in-person development day
• Undertake self-directed learning throughout Aurora, aligned with development interests
• Commit to working with a mentor, found by delegates with the support of their institution
• Be prepared to access leadership opportunities and champion for change

Find out more about the Aurora programme.

The University is committed to engage in the initiative and this year will be supporting 8 participants to attend the programme. There is a competitive application process for these places, which are available to women in job grades 7 to 9 in the Education and Research Job Family, and grades 6 to 8 in other job families.

Please note: We anticipate high demand for the 8 places available for this year's cohort. In addition to Aurora, the University is working with staff network groups to identify alternative development options to sit alongside our existing People Management Curriculum workshops and leadership development programmes.

Feedback from our Aurora community has highlighted how valuable the community aspect of the programme and the networks we have here at the university is. Particular networks to draw your attention to are:

• Women's Network: Career, Growth and Community
• Senior Professional Services Womens' Leadership network
• Women Academics Change Agents (WACA) Network

Please also browse the content on The Development Toolkit where you can access online resources to support your professional and personal development. There is also our coaching service for staff which you may find to be a suitable approach to help you address your career development.

How to apply:

• All eligible people will receive a direct email notifying them that applications are open
• Check that you are able to attend all of the session dates (see below)

• Complete the application form (link at the bottom of the page) which contains 3 questions:

  1. Why Aurora? Why now? (150-200 words)
  2. How do you define 'leadership'? - Tell us 2 different ways in which you would like to develop your leadership approach? (150-200 words)
  3. What scope have you identified for taking on roles with more leadership responsibility in the short to medium term? - Tell us 1 or 2 ways. (150-200 words)

• Completed applications need to be submitted by 5:00pm on Wednesday 3 September 2025.

• Successful applicants will be notified by Thursday 17 September 2025.

There will also be a series of online optional networking events (1-2 hours) taking place during the course of the programme. These sessions are designed to supplement the learning journey. Topics and themes include:

• Reflective Practice in Your Leadership
• Giving Feedback as a Leadership Skill
• Life Transitions: Career Breaks, Maternity and Menopause
• Wellbeing and Resilience

The dates and timings will be announced in due course and will be added to the dates above once confirmed.

Participants 2023-24:

• Clare Baxter
• Katherine Binks
• Jess Bower
• Jessica Carwardine
• Emma Fisher
• Astrid Forsyth
• Katrina Kelly
• Alice Lowe
• Elizabeth Marks
• Anita McGrogan
• Gemma Noyce
• Kully Rennie
• Liz Simmons
• Hannah van Buuren
• Verity Westcott
• Rachel Willis