AURORA

Aurora is for women up to senior lecturer/ researcher and professional services from Grade 6 to Grade 8, who demonstrate the ambition to develop as a leader within current or future roles.

It aims to encourage participants to recognise their talent and capabilities, think about their future careers, consider “stepping up” to promotional posts and to consider leadership and management as one option for career progression. Therefore, participants should be ambitious for a career in the HE sector and willing to actively engage in developing their leadership potential.

While most leadership programmes are aimed at leaders and managers already in role, Aurora is designed to engage with women at an earlier stage in their careers.

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

The programme has been designed to introduce key leadership topics and skills through four full-day virtual workshops complemented by networking, role models and guest speakers at each event. In addition, on-going support is ensured through two virtual action learning days, online resources and institutional level support including guidance from the UU Aurora Champion and partaking in a mentoring relationship.

There is an end of year networking event in Dublin planned for 14 February 2025.

Participants should be committed to developing and enhancing their career and promote women’s leadership. They will:

• Be available to meet with Ulster Aurora Community representatives for pre-programme briefing, information and advice. This Ulster Aurora Welcome and Orientation event will be held in early Autumn 2024.
• Be committed to participate fully in the full Aurora process attending four externally run online development days, two action learning set days and the networking event in Dublin.
• Embrace the mentoring partnership as the mentee, and actively work with their mentors to address their personal development.
• Be prepared to embrace the networking opportunities provided by both UU and Aurora. There is an end of year networking event in Dublin planned for 14 February 2025.
• Commit to undertake some self-directed study as part of the programme.
• Be committed to a career in higher education and prepared to devote some time to consider and plan their career.
• Have a willingness to undertake projects or assignments to continue developing their leadership skills.
• Participate in feedback to gauge the effectiveness of Aurora.
• Act as mentors or role models to future participants.
• Commit to ‘give back’ and support women’s leadership in UU after the programme.

A person has developed beyond the content found in the Aurora programme if they can already confidently use and demonstrate their influence to motivate others to deliver on University goals and objectives. These individuals are better suited to other leadership development programmes. Please contact your line manager or People Development for support with this.

If Aurora is not currently the right development opportunity for you, please do explore the Learn more @UU website to see what other development may be available. You can also contact the people development team (pdod@ulster.ac.uk) if you have any questions about other development opportunities.

To reflect the challenges of the previous academic years, Aurora was re-designed as a fully virtual experience. All Aurora activity for 2024/25, with the exception of a year end event, will continue to be delivered online. Please carefully consider whether this method of learning is right for you and is something you are likely to engage with. Aurorans are expected to attend all sessions in full.

Below are the interlinked days for the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Cohort:

• Welcome and Introduction Webinar
  11 Oct 24 (10-12:30pm)
• Identity, Impact & Voice
  18 Oct 24 (10-3pm)
• Core Leadership
  8 Nov 24 (10-3pm)
• Action Learning Set 1
  29 Nov 24 (10-3pm)
• Politics & Influence
  12 Dec 24 (10-3pm)
• Adaptive Leadership
  22 Jan 25 (10-3pm)
• Networking Event (Dublin)
  14 Feb 25 (9:30- 4pm)
• Action Learning Set 2
  6 Mar 25 (10-3pm)

The programme runs annually, and approval of applications is co-ordinated within People and Culture. It is a self-nomination process.

Applicants must discuss their development goals for the programme with their line manager. The application form must be completed in full and then needs to be countersigned, with a supporting statement from the line manager and signed off also by the Head of School/ Department. It then goes to the selection panel for consideration.

More information on the application, criteria for eligibility and selection process is available on the Self Nomination Form.

Applications closed

The application process for 2024/25 is now closed.

Applications for 2025/26 will be opening during July 2025.

The programme costs £1100 (no VAT). In support of the University’s Athena Swan agenda and ongoing commitment to promoting and valuing leadership development and career progression for women across the University, the People and Culture Directorate and Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are jointly funding the course fees for 16 places on the 2024/25 Aurora programme.

Funding includes participant fees and excludes any travel and subsistence costs for the networking event in February 2025. It may be possible for additional places on the programme to be secured if the departments have capacity to fund additional individuals for this directly.

The programme is supported by Aurora Champions who provide guidance and are the main point of contact between Advance HE and Ulster University. These are Professor Mary Hannon- Fletcher, Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, UU Aurora Champion, Athena Swan Champion, and STEMM Ambassador, Janet Peden, University Librarian & Deputy Chief Digital and Information Officer, Library Directorate and Aoife Campbell, People Development Partner, People and Culture.

Once delegates have had their place confirmed by Advance HE, they will need to find a Mentor – support and guidance on this will be provided by People Development once your booking has been processed.

Role Models from a range of institutions, including Ulster University, attend the virtual workshops so that participants have contact with successful women in higher education displaying the values and characteristics suitable for a positive role model.

• Managers should communicate/advertise the programme to eligible staff; giving enough time for staff to meet the closing date.
• Managers should familiarise themselves with the aims of Aurora in relation to other development options available to support informed discussion with interested staff.
• Managers should consider discussing the Aurora programme with eligible staff.
• Managers must consider all applications received from staff. Assessing the individual’ suitability in comparison to the selection criteria.
• Managers must complete the manager’s section in each eligible staff’s application form, prior to submitting this form for consideration. They must also get Head of School/ Department signature on the form.
• Managers must be prepared to provide appropriate feedback to both unsuccessful and successful candidates and should consider how to handle this in advance. The selection panel also offer feedback to unsuccessful candidates.
• Managers are responsible for following up with all successful participants after the programme and check whether aims included on their application form have been achieved for example at their development discussions.

Professor Mary Hannon- Fletcher, Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, UU Aurora Champion, Athena SWAN Champion, and STEMM Ambassador

‘I have had the pleasure of being involved at a university and national level with the Aurora programme since 2014.  Taking part as a Role Model was inspirational, meeting such committed women across the UK. To see them grow in confidence, taking up their space, and speaking out was a joy to witness. Those who have engaged with Aurora have gained so much, many going for promotion while others lead at their current level. The value they bring to their university is immeasurable and the community they build grows stronger each year.’

Tandy Haughey, Senior Lecturer, School of Sport

“Gaining a place on the Aurora programme this year has been thought provoking but also reassuring in relation to my leadership journey.  There have been some challenging times both personally and professionally during this academic year and the learning from Aurora via the online sessions, pre session tasks, in session conversations, post sessions reflections and most importantly the mentoring support have been so needed.  I continue to reflect and really challenge myself with reference to my leadership and acknowledge I need to get out of that ‘RED CHAIR’ and really take stock of what is around ME!  Being given the opportunity to participate in this programme has given me the time to consider ‘ME’ and my direction and that of the team I work closely with.

So, using the word AURORA, I am considering my leadership role within the School and will:

Accept and Understand that I need to be Realistic and take Opportunities through building Relationships and Acknowledging we are all different.

A - accept

U – understand

R – (be) realistic

O – (take) opportunities

R – (build) relationships

A – acknowledge (we are different)”

Laura Fitzmaurice, EU Thematic Lead (Energy), Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment

‘The Aurora program has given me time and perspective to develop my own career. I have met a lot of different people throughout the programme, and it has been really good providing a sounding board to realize what path I should focus on. The most valuable part for me was being challenged by my peers and having to question things. Having a good mentor was priceless.

The content was very relevant across the board and useful in both professional and personal life. ‘

Sarah Smyth, Subject Assistant Librarian, Library Directorate

“Aurora has taught me many things. From strategy development, through finding allies to back you up, to having difficult conversations both in and out of my working life. But the biggest lesson of all? The power of a group of resilient, resourceful women striving together to achieve the common goal of development, acceptance, and a place at the Leadership table.”