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Aurora

Developing future leaders for higher education

Launched in November 2013, Aurora is our women-only leadership development programme. In 2016-17 we will be running the fourth year of Aurora, with six cohorts taking place across the UK and Ireland.

Three years on, we have witnessed an overwhelmingly positive response from the sector. Nearly 2500 women have participated in Aurora, exceeding our expectations year on year. 139 institutions have taken part from across the UK and Ireland, supporting the development of their women leaders and partnering with us to champion gender equality in higher education.

Aurora brochure

 

Onwards and Upwards: Aurora longitudinal study

‘Onwards and Upwards’, our Aurora longitudinal study, launched in July 2015 to track the careers and aspirations of women working in higher education. Led by a team of experts at Loughborough University, this five-year study aims to follow the journeys of Aurora participants before, during and after they have completed the programme. To read more about the study and look at its initial findings visit the longitudinal study homepage.

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What do they say?

Aurora has had a huge impact for Brunel. It has highlighted our commitment to gender equality and ensuring women have the opportunity to apply for more senior positons in the organisation and that we want them to stay, grow and develop with us. Aurora has helped our participants to maximise their talents and develop leadership skills and acumen. Several have succeeded in advancing their careers, either through promotion or by attaining new leadership roles.

Professor Lorraine De Souza, Aurora champion
Pro-vice chancellor (equality, diversity and staff development)
Brunel University London

Schemes such as Aurora are hugely important in enabling women to explore their leadership aspirations and abilities in a supportive environment, and to develop their leadership potential. Many of our former participants have found the “cohort” nature of the scheme, the shared learning and the mentoring it provides invaluable.

Professor Jane Norman, Aurora champion
Professor or maternal and fetal health and vice-principal (people and culture)
University of Edinburgh

Read the Aurora institutional case studies

Main Menu

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  2. Programmes
    1. Programmes
      1. Top Management Programme
        1. The Longitudinal Study
      2. Strategic Finance Programme
      3. Executive Leaders
      4. Strategic Leadership Programme
      5. Preparing for Senior Strategic Leadership
      6. Leading Departments
      7. Introduction to Head of Department
      8. Transition to Leadership
      9. Women-only Programmes
        1. Aurora
          1. About Aurora
          2. Dates, Venues and Booking
          3. Guidance for Institutions
          4. Aurora Champion Directory
          5. Role Models
          6. Resources
          7. The Longitudinal Study
          8. Aurora Terms and Cancellations
          9. Demystifying Finance for Aurorans
        2. Leadership Matters
      10. Governor Development Programme
        1. Clerks and Secretaries Professional Development and Leadership Programme
        2. Self-Assessment Tool
      11. Professional Partnerships
        1. Future Professional Directors
          1. FPD 1 - Resources
          2. FLP 10 resources
        2. Leading Transformation in Learning and Teaching
          1. LTLT Dates and details
        3. Solutions for Organisational Success
      12. Research Leadership Programmes
      13. Diversifying Leadership
      14. Vice-Chancellors/Principals
    2. Bespoke Programmes
      1. Change Academy
        1. Change Academy Case Studies
          1. Change Academy: University of Westminster
          2. Change Academy: Loughborough University
          3. Change Academy: York University, Toronto
        2. Change Academy FAQs
      2. Programmes for Head of Department
        1. Leading Departments
        2. Head of Department
        3. Introduction to Head of Department
      3. Research Team Leadership
      4. Leading Teaching Teams
      5. Essentials of Leading Change
      6. Building Strategic Capability
      7. Unlocking Potential Through Performance Management
      8. Cultural Intelligence
      9. Working with Others
        1. Case Study: University College Cork
    3. Conferences and Events
      1. Regional Events
      2. Network Events
      3. Scottish Events
      4. Welsh Events
      5. The Leadership Lecture
      6. THE Awards
    4. Alumni
      1. LF Fellowship
        1. Becoming an LF Fellow
        2. LF Fellowship FAQ's
        3. LF Fellow Directory
      2. Projects
        1. Projects 2006/07
        2. Projects 2004/05
          1. Professor Uduak Archibong
          2. Professor Teresa Rees CBE AcSS
          3. Dr Peter McCaffrey
    5. MASHEIN
    6. The Prevent Agenda
    7. Programme Dates
  3. Consultancy
    1. Sector Wide Change
    2. Institutional Transformation
      1. Governor Development and Governance Reviews
      2. Support from a change advisor
      3. Change health check
      4. Personal change questionnaire
      5. Supporting internal change consultants
    3. Teams and Individuals
      1. Bespoke and Tailored Programmes
      2. Coaching
        1. Executive Coaching
        2. Team Coaching
        3. Career Coaching Options
        4. Coaching Programmes
        5. Coaching Case Studies
      3. Unconscious Bias Workshops
    4. Organisational Development
      1. Working with Top Management Teams
      2. Evaluation and Impact
      3. Collaborations, Alliances and Mergers
      4. Strategic Marketing and Communications
      5. Leadership of the Student Experience
    5. International Consultancy
      1. Bespoke (In-Country) Programmes
      2. International Partnership and Network Programmes
    6. Case studies
    7. Frequently Asked Questions
  4. Research
    1. Research and Innovation
      1. HE-context-and-landscape
      2. Global and cross-sector perspectives
      3. Culture, change and organisational development
      4. Governance, academic and financial risk
      5. Understanding leadership
      6. Equality, diversity and inclusion
      7. Identities, roles and careers
      8. Evolving organisational forms
      9. Developing leaders
    2. Research Hub
      1. Current Tenders
        1. Call for Proposals 2017
        2. Getting to Grips Guides
      2. 2016 Research
        1. The purpose of professors: professionalism, pressures and performance
        2. Leading Technology-Enhanced Learning in Higher Education: Summary
        3. Leading Technology-Enhanced Learning in Higher Education: Full Report
        4. Making the road while walking: Co-creation, teaching excellence and university leadership
        5. The Role of Prestige in UK Universities: Vice-Chancellors' Perspectives
        6. The Impact of Leadership and Leadership Development in Higher Education
        7. The Impact of Higher Education Leadership, Governance and Management Research - Full Report
        8. The Impact of Higher Education Leadership, Governance and Management Research - Summary
        9. Exploring the Impact of Coaching in Higher Education: a Provocation
      3. 2015 Research
        1. In the wings and backstage: exploring the micropolitics of leadership in higher education
        2. Developing and Sustaining Shared Leadership in Higher Education
        3. How can we make not break black and minority ethnic leaders in higher education?
        4. Religion in Britain: Challenges to Higher Education
        5. The Case for Growing STEMM Research Capacity in Wales
      4. 2014 Research
        1. Leading interdisciplinary Research transforming the academic landscape
        2. Exploring Student Leadership
        3. Gender and Higher Education Leadership
        4. Towards the family friendly university?
        5. The experience of BME academics in higher education: aspirations in the face of inequality
        6. Challenges for the leadership of transnational education in higher education: balancing risk and innovation
        7. The employability agenda and beyond: what are universities for?
        8. Governance in a changing environment: literature review
        9. Governance in a changing environment: thought piece
        10. The governance of private higher education providers in the UK
        11. Leading academic talent to a successful future: an international perspective
        12. Leading academic talent to a successful future: interviews with leaders, managers and academics
        13. Out in Orbit: strategies and trajectories for higher education satellite campuses
        14. Neo-collegiality: restoring academic engagement in the managerial university
        15. Trends in Governance: Universities in the Southern, African Development, Community
        16. Action Learning as a Tool for Change and Development: The Experience of Registrars and Senior Administrative Officers in Southern Africa
        17. Registrars and Senior Administrative Officers as Change Leaders in Southern African Universities
        18. The Changing Role of the University Registrar: Challenges and Prospects in Southern African Higher Education Institutions
        19. Report from the: Programme for University Leaders in the Southern African Region (PULSAR)
        20. Leading the Student Experience: Academic and Professional Services in Partnership
        21. A Complexity Approach to Leadership Development: Developing Practical Judgement
        22. Performance Management in UK Higher Education Institutions: The need for a hybrid approach
      5. 2013 Research
        1. Humanities Research Leadership in Europe
        2. Credit Risk? Reviving credit accumulation and transfer in UK higher education
        3. What do we know about: Collaborations and Partnerships in Higher Education
        4. Leadership of Practice Disciplines in Universities: The case of nurses and teachers
        5. Devolution and Higher Education: What next?
        6. Leadership for a better student experience: What do senior executives need to know?
        7. Horizon Scanning: what will higher education look like in 2020
        8. Leading interdisciplinarity: creating environments for success
        9. Using International Recruitment Agents: Risks and Regulation?
        10. Staffing Models and Institutional Flexibility
        11. Leading change in assessment and feedback
        12. Women and Higher Education Leadership: Absences and Aspirations
        13. Internationalising the curriculum: Design, delivery and depth
        14. Losing our Chains?
      6. 2012 Research
        1. What do we know about leadership in higher education?
        2. Leadership development within the UK higher education: its impact on organisational performance, and the role of evaluation
        3. Academic Leadership: Changing Conceptions, Identities and Experiences in UK Higher Education
        4. Collaborations and Mergers in HE: Lessons Learned and Future Prospects
      7. 2011 Research
        1. Higher Education Collaborations: Implications for Leadership, Management and Governance
        2. Leadership and Management of International Partnerships
      8. 2010 Research
        1. Conversations and Collaborations: The Leadership of Collaborative Projects between Higher Education and the Arts and Cultural Sector
      9. 2009 Research
        1. Departmental Leadership of Teaching in Research-Intensive Environments
      10. 2008 Research
        1. Professional Managers in UK Higher Education: Preparing for Complex Futures
        2. Developing Collective Leadership in Higher Education
      11. 2007 Research
        1. Effective Leadership in Higher Education
      12. Research Order Form
      13. Small Development Projects
        1. Small Development Projects 2016
        2. Small Development Projects 2015
        3. Small Development Projects 2014
        4. Small Development Projects 2013
        5. Small Development Projects 2012
        6. Small Development Projects 2011
        7. Small Development Projects 2010
        8. Small Development Projects 2008-09
        9. Advice from Previous SDP Leaders
      14. ITF Projects
        1. ITF-2016 Phase 3
        2. ITF 2014 Phase 2
        3. ITF 2012 Phase 1
        4. Case Studies
        5. What they say about the Innovation and Transformation Fund
    3. Publications Hub
      1. Getting to Grips
      2. HELMs
        1. Leading higher education
        2. Motivating and developing leaders
        3. Leadership and work-life balance
        4. Governors' views of their institutions, leadership and governance
      3. Leadership Insights
      4. Management Development Resources
      5. Reports and Reviews
        1. Researching and Scoping a Higher Education and Civic Leadership Development Programme
      6. ENGAGE Past Editions
        1. ENGAGE 38 - summer 2015
          1. Editorial: Alison Johns
          2. Summer News
          3. Being on the Board
          4. Cross-sector partnerships: Essex LGBT Alliance
          5. Our alumni
          6. Starter for ten
          7. Projects - Research - Resources
          8. International
          9. Meet our Membership Advisory Group
          10. Take a look at our Leadership Development Programmes
          11. Download Engage38
        2. ENGAGE 37 - spring 2015
          1. Editorial: Alison Johns
          2. Spring News
          3. A baptism of fire
          4. Sustainable excellence: unlocking the potential of a leading global university
          5. Our alumni
          6. Starter for ten: Fiona Larg
          7. Projects - Research - Resources
          8. International
          9. Member spotlight
          10. Take a look at our Leadership Development Programmes
          11. Download Engage37
        3. ENGAGE 36 - autumn 2014
          1. Editorial: Alison Johns
          2. Autumn News
          3. Membership
          4. Mainstreaming equality and diversity
          5. The rise of the career PVC
          6. Our alumni
          7. Professor Pat Bailey
          8. Projects - Research - Resources
          9. Executive Leaders
          10. Leadership Development Programmes
          11. Download Engage36
        4. ENGAGE 35 - summer 2014
          1. Summer News
          2. The Singularity University
          3. Talent Development
          4. Our alumni: Liz Price
          5. Professor Cliff Allan
          6. Projects - Research - Resources
          7. Umeå University Dialogue
          8. History, Examination, Investigations and Treatment
          9. Leadership Development Programmes
          10. Download Engage35
        5. ENGAGE 34 - spring 2014
          1. Dr Mark Pegg
          2. Spring 2014 News
          3. An unorthodox career
          4. Leadership: New thinking for the next decade
          5. Our alumni: Professor Tom Inns
          6. Professor Amanda J. Broderick
          7. Projects - Research - Resources
          8. LF Consulting
          9. The China Study
          10. Staff update
          11. Download Engage34
        6. ENGAGE 33 - autumn 2013
          1. Leadership: the next ten years
          2. News
          3. Project update
          4. Interview
          5. In Practice
          6. Development
          7. Starter for ten
          8. Research: Staffing Models and Institutional Flexibility
          9. Book Review
          10. Download Engage33
        7. ENGAGE 32 - summer 2013
          1. Change: the new norm
          2. News
          3. Project update
          4. Interview
          5. In Practice
          6. Development
          7. What our research says:
          8. Leadership Development Programmes
          9. Download Engage32
        8. Engage Unlimited
        9. Engage 2 Book Review
    4. Resource Hub
      1. Diversity
        1. Strategy
          1. Diversity Strategy for 2007-2012
        2. Key Leadership and Diversity Projects
        3. Equality Legislation
        4. Diversity Advisory Group
        5. Diversity talks
      2. Research Outcomes
        1. The Self Assessment Toolkit
      3. Changing the Learning Landscape
        1. Impact
          1. Patsy's Perspective:
        2. Partners
        3. Interactive Toolkit
      4. Organisational Development
        1. OD Mapping Project
      5. Case Studies
      6. LGM Fund Outcomes
      7. Succession Management
        1. What is it?
          1. Definitions
          2. Visualising the definitions
          3. History of the Concept
          4. Succession in 2005
          5. Key Characteristics
        2. Why do it?
          1. Benefits - Case Studies
          2. Focus Finder
        3. How it's done
          1. Resources
          2. Making the case
          3. Size and scope
          4. Roles, stakeholders and engagement
          5. Roles, stakeholders and engagement: examples
          6. Selection and assessment
          7. Selection and assessment: examples
          8. Development methods
        4. Case Studies
        5. Tools
  5. Governance
    1. Governors
      1. Becoming a governor
      2. What is governance?
      3. Governor responsibilities
        1. Academic governance and quality
        2. Compliance and regulation
        3. Commercial operations
        4. International students and developments
        5. Risk management
        6. Students
        7. Strategic plans
        8. Monitoring performance
    2. Governing bodies
      1. Audit Committee
      2. Nominations committee
      3. Remuneration
      4. Employment
      5. Finance
      6. Estates
    3. Operating context
    4. Resource bank
      1. Features
      2. Governance News
      3. Previous news alerts
        1. Alternative providers and student debt in the US: could it happen in the UK?
        2. Is institutional autonomy under threat?
        3. Managing the board
        4. OECD Report suggests some higher education students lack basic skills
        5. Five issues for HEI governing bodies
        6. Whistleblowing and gagging clauses
        7. The failure of HBOS
        8. Financial forecasts for English HEIs
        9. Governance changes proposed in the HE Green paper
        10. FEHE SORP 2015 Donations & Endowments
        11. Board diversity - the Davis Review
        12. Information systems and cyber security
        13. Does a change in leadership lead to a change in strategy?
        14. FIFA and corporate governance
        15. Volkswagen
        16. Sustainability
        17. Review of governance at Plymouth University
        18. Equality and diversity and governing bodies
        19. A Changing Agenda
        20. Role and effectiveness of audit committees
        21. Governance of Scottish Higher Education Institutions: Consulative Paper on HE Bill
        22. Governance issues at Tesco
        23. Student visas
        24. Governance at the Co-op
        25. HE funding - IFS report
        26. Removal of student number control
        27. Governance issues in the private sector
        28. Governance at the BBC
        29. Reforms to how higher education in England is regulated
        30. HBOS & London Met: case studies in governance
        31. New IPPR report on HE
        32. Moocs are coming
        33. Increasing diversity
        34. Kids Company
          1. The collapse of Kids Company
          2. NAO Investigation into Kids Company
          3. The need for good governance
      4. Getting-to-grips
        1. Getting to Grips with Finance
      5. Useful websites
      6. Codes of governance
        1. CUC Code of Governance
        2. UK Corporate Governance Code
      7. New research on governance in higher education
      8. Book reviews
      9. HE facts
    5. Governance Briefing Notes
    6. Governor Dialogues
    7. Equality and Diversity Toolkit
      1. Overview
      2. Overseeing compliance
        1. The Equality Act 2010
        2. Governance Codes
        3. Overseeing E&D
        4. Reports Governors might use
        5. Case study: Bath
        6. Championing E&D
        7. Case study: ManMet
        8. Case study: Cardiff
      3. Competitive Advantage
        1. Competing in a global market
        2. Improving staff diversity
        3. Case study: Exeter
      4. Issues and Challenges
        1. Student inequalities
        2. Staff inequalities
        3. Assessing specific E&D issues
      5. Value
        1. Increasing focus
        2. Gender diversity data
        3. Improving diversity
        4. Case study 1: UWS
        5. Case study 2: UWS
      6. Questions and Resources
        1. Resources
  6. International
    1. International Engagement
    2. International Reference Group
  7. Membership
    1. Membership benefits and services
      1. Membership logos
        1. Download the membership logos
    2. How to join
    3. National and regional contacts
      1. Cindy Vallance
      2. Gary Reed
      3. Jean Chandler
      4. Judy Harris
      5. Maeve Lankford
      6. Meriel Box
      7. Rebecca Bull
    4. Membership advisory group
    5. Membership development support
    6. Management Development Resources
      1. Download MDR1: Managing Effective Performance
      2. Download MDR2: Managing Change in HE
      3. Download MDR3: Emotional Intelligence, Personal Impact and Personal Effectiveness
      4. Download MDR4: Lean Management: Doing more with less
      5. Download MDR5: The Current HE Context: Drivers for change
      6. Download MDR6: Commercial Skills for Academics and Researchers
      7. MDR7: Caught in the Middle
        1. MDR7 Contents
        2. Download MDR7: Caught in the Middle
      8. Download MDR8: Working with Academic Motivation and Prestige
    7. Knowledge Bank
    8. Membership community
      1. Members' Directory
    9. MASHEIN
      1. MASHEIN Members
  8. News
    1. Twitter

Download the Aurora A3 poster

Aurora poster

Welcome...

We are a membership organisation of and for a sector that has some of the brightest minds in the UK.

 

Our members are key to our strategy and form a community of higher education institutions with a clear commitment to and experience of developing leadership, governance and management capabilities at all levels. Academic and professional services staff from member institutions contribute to our programmes, projects and research and advise on benefits and services.

 

Find out more about Membership

 

  • Membership benefits

    • 25% discount on our open and in-house programmes and consultancy
    • a free consultancy day
    • exclusive access to research publications, development resources and funding opportunities
    • free regional events
    • funding for Staff Development Forum and MASHEIN activity
    • members’ mailing lists, newsletters and magazine
    • participation in our development networks

    More…

  • How to join

    • Membership is open to all higher education providers and related sector organisations on an annual or three-yearly subscription basis.
    • We have 154 members with around a third taking advantage of the 10% discount offered by three-year subscriptions.

    More…

  • Membership benefits

    • Research and innovation: Access to our latest, highly-valued research, Leadership Insights, Getting to Grips series and practical development project resources.

      • More…

    • Management Development Resources: Flexible workshop materials on key leadership and management development topics, for you to deliver in-house to suit your own contexts NEW: ‘Caught in the Middle’. 

      • More…

    • The Knowledge Bank: Save time with these extensive multi-media training resources for HR, staff development and OD professionals, covering key leadership and management theory and practice.

      • More…

  • Get in touch

    Meet the membership team, your national and regional contacts in the UK and Ireland, and LF networks.

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