Queen Mary is proud of its ongoing relationship with Advance HE and is again participating in Aurora in 2023/24.

Participation in the programme will involve attending a series of development days and action learning sets, as well as opportunities to network with women at Queen Mary who are participating, or have participated, in the Aurora programme.

All Aurora sessions are now be delivered online, with one face to face event in London. 

What is Aurora?

Aurora is a unique partnership bringing together leadership experts and higher education institutions to take positive action to address the under-representation of women in leadership positions in the sector. It aims to enable women in academic and professional staff roles to think of themselves as future leaders; to influence their institutions and to develop leadership skills.

As part of our core values, we believe in supporting women, working across academic and professional services to achieve their best potential and become future leaders at the university.

Aurora Leadership programme 2023/24: Developing women leaders at Queen Mary

Participation in the programme will involve attending a series of development days and action learning sets, as well as opportunities to network with women at Queen Mary who are participating, or have participated, in the Aurora programme.

2023/24 Cohort Dates

Advance HE have confirmed that their Aurora initiative will run online for 2023/24. There are 6 regional cohort dates beginning between September 2023 and February 2024.

Queen Mary will be participating in the September 2023 intake, as part of South of England cohort. 

• Introduction and Guest Speaker: Tuesday, 26^th September 2023 
• Identity, Impact and Voice: Tuesday, 3^rd October 2023   
• Core Leadership: Tuesday, 7^th November 2023     
• Action Learning Set 1: Tuesday, 21^st November 2023
•  Politics and Influence: Tuesday, 12^th December 2023
• Adaptive Leadership Skills: Tuesday, 16^th January 2024
• Action Learning Set 2: Tuesday, 6th February 2024
• In person event London "Your Future in Higher Education": Friday, 26^th January 2024

The expectation is that applicants are able to attend all sessions – while they do not take up the whole day, participants are strongly encouraged to block out the day for their personal development, and to make the most of the programme.

Who can apply?

Aurora is for staff who identify as women, up to and including senior lecturer level or the professional services equivalent (Grade 7) 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 line manager and be committed to developing and enhancing their career.

Participants will be asked to:

• attend the introduction webinar which will introduce the aims and objectives of Aurora as well as the Action Learning Set Groups
• attend each of the four development days, and the two action learning set days organised by participants in their assigned groups;
• undertake self-directed learning throughout Aurora, aligned with developing interests and where time allows;
• commit to finding and working with a mentor (with the support from the Aurora champion); be prepared to access leadership opportunities and to champion for change.

The deadline for applications is by end of play on 16th August 2023.

For further information, or to send a completed Aurora application form [DOC 35KB], please contact the EDI Team.

Interested candidates are also invited to join one of our three Teams sessions for a brief presentation and a chance to ask any questions about the programme on Friday 7th July from 10 to 11, Tuesday 18th July from 12 to 1, and Wednesday 2nd August from 12:30-1:30. 

What other ways can staff get involved?

Mentors

Aurora participants are required to have a mentor to support and guide them throughout and after the end of the formal learning process. Mentors may be any gender, and should be well-established and knowledgeable members of the institution who will usually be more senior than the Aurora participant.

Mentors will:

• Be considered successful in their careers;
• Be knowledgeable and experienced in their organisation and understand its culture;
• Have sufficient time available to work with the mentee;
• Have the endorsement of their Aurora champion;
• Have sufficient general higher education experience to be able to offer advice and support;
• Be a good listener;
• Have a genuine interest in helping women to develop their careers and particularly support his/her mentee;
• Have a supportive or ‘coaching style’ of communication.