Aurora women’s leadership programme is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Since it was launched in 2013, more than 10,000 women from nearly 200 different institutions across the UK and the Ireland have completed it – all gaining new skills, bigger networks and fresh perspectives on leadership. To mark this special milestone, women who have taken part in Aurora since its very earliest days share their stories and institutions outline the role it plays in their gender equality work.
About Aurora
Aurora is Advance HE's flagship leadership development initiative designed exclusively for women. This initiative is the result of a unique partnership that brings together leadership experts, higher education providers, and research institutes, all committed to taking positive action to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions within the sector.
My Aurora story: Dr Mary Richards
Taking part in the first-ever Aurora women’s leadership programme proved a career turning point for academic Mary Richards ten years after taking part in the Aurora programme, the reader at Brunel University has seen her career progress and become architect of a ground-breaking undergraduate programme that is winning awards.
'Aurora is part of our gender equity strategy': Sir David Bell
Advance HE’s Aurora women’s leadership programme is a key part of the University of Sunderland’s strategy to create a ‘pipeline’ of women leaders.
Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell explains how the programme is supporting the institution’s equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) efforts and creating a cohort of women leaders who are more confident, better connected and more satisfied in their roles.
How AURORA inspires women to lead: Personal stories from women in higher education.
To mark this 10 year milestone, we caught up with alumnae from our Aurora initiative. Hear personal stories from women who have gained new skills, fresh perspectives and expanded networks after completing Advance HE’s flagship leadership initiative exclusively for female higher education professionals.
Aurora Alumnae Network
The Aurora Alumnae community is designed exclusively for women who have completed the Aurora programme, offering a platform for ongoing growth and collaboration. It was established in recognition of the transformative impact of the Aurora programme. With over 10,000 women from nearly 200 institutions in the UK and Ireland participating in Aurora since its launch in 2013, the community addresses the continued need for support, development, and connectivity among its members.
