Since its launch in 2013 more than 2,000 from over 60 different institutions across 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.
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 an action learning set.
Who is Aurora for?
Aurora is for women from HE institutions Ireland and the UK, 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 is designed as a positive action measure to address under-representation of women in leadership in HE. In the UK and Northern Ireland, delegates share the protected characteristic of sex, whilst Irish delegates share the equality grounds of gender.
What to expect
Aurora 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 session which will introduce the aims and objectives of Aurora along with an inspirational guest speaker
- Attend each of the four development days, the two action learning set days and the 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
Participating in the Aurora programme has been an inspiring and empowering experience. It provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on my leadership journey, develop greater confidence in my abilities, and learn from an incredible community of women across the higher education sector.
Dr Izabella Orban, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
What Aurora participants have to say
Read the blogs linked below to hear first hand experiences on the individual impact of Aurora from past participants in Ireland.
Aurora: leadership beyond traditional paths
Trish Bourke, Senior Officer in the Office of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Technological University of the Shannon, Ireland, shares her experience of Aurora.
Lifted by women: from working class to leadership
Pilar Alderete, Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Galway, describes her leadership growth in Aurora, our leadership development initiative for women in higher education.
From imposter to ambassador: how Aurora helped me find my place in HE
Teresa Murray, Head of Communications at National College of Ireland, explains why she is an enthusiastic ambassador for Aurora, Advance HE’s leadership development programme for women in higher education.
Booking information
The 2026-27 cohort of Aurora begins on 8 October. If you’re interested in participating, start by contacting your institution’s Aurora Champion or other Learning and Development Sponsor at your institution. Aurora is run in partnership between your institution and Advance HE, so places are organised through your institution’s own application process. Please visit the Aurora Champion Directory for contact details.
If you would like to find out more about the Aurora Programme, please fill out our enquiry form to receive an information pack containing further details about the programme content.
