Aurora Leadership Development Programme

"Aurora allowed me to find a band of incredible women who generously shared their experiences to support one another's ambitions - really proud to have been part of it!"

"We do not only need more female leaders in higher educational institutions, but we also need empowered females as well as a diverse and inclusive working environment where all employees can thrive."

"Taking part in the Aurora programme enabled me to network with a wide variety of women both in DCU and further afield. The programme enabled me to take stock and reflect on my career goals and make coherent plans for the future. Overall, taking part in the Aurora programme was a worthwhile experience for me."

"Despite being selected to take part, I was initially concerned that I wasn't a great fit for a leadership programme; I thought maybe I was too early in my career to be a leader, and I felt neither fully admin nor academic. But I've learned it's never too early to start learning how to lead well. Taking part in this programme has afforded me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills, reflect on my goals and ambitions, and meet like-minded women who are also keen to guide the future of our universities."

"I gained a lot from participating in the Aurora programme, not least the opportunity to network with some wonderful female colleagues from a range of different roles throughout the University sector. Their varied perspectives on the challenges we face contributed greatly to my own development, and the thoughtful insights shared helped me to clarify my vision for any leadership roles I take on in the future. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in the programme this year."

"In what was a difficult year, I have really enjoyed the Aurora programme. Of course it would have been great to have physically met everyone but the online sessions were thought provoking, at times emotional and most importantly, motivating. I found the mentorship element to be the most beneficial part for me, it has been great to have someone "in my corner" who I can go to for honest, objective and supportive advice. Attending this course has been one of the most positive aspects of my working life this year and I feel more confident about my future career as a result."

"Participating in the Aurora Leadership Programme was a wonderful experience which provided an opportunity for me to reflect on my leadership skills, identify areas for further development and expand my network both internal and external to DCU… One of the most impactful aspects of the programme for me was the opportunity to engage in dialogue with colleagues from Irish and UK HEIs through the Action Learning Sets (ALS)... I would thoroughly recommend colleagues to consider engaging in this programme. I have learned so much about myself and the pathways I wish to explore to advance my career."

"Thanks to Aurora, I am more aware of my own strengths but also areas I need to work on to help me develop my full potential in the workplace, especially in terms of leadership and dealing with challenges. Listening to the talks and experiences of women in different leadership roles from a diverse variety of backgrounds was nothing short of inspiring. I have learned so much from their stories and really appreciated this opportunity to engage with Aurora."

“I am so glad that I completed the Aurora programme - it genuinely helped me to build my confidence and feel clearer about my career objectives. I thought all the Development Days were well delivered and had value for me both in my immediate day-to-day work but also in helping me to envision what I want to achieve in the future. I would recommend Aurora to anyone who is at an early career stage and wants to develop their leadership style and understand more about what authentic leadership means for them.” 

“Taking part in Aurora exceeded my expectations. I was able to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborations with like-minded women from diverse backgrounds and settings. The interactive workshops challenged me to approach problems from new angles with the encouragement and support from members of my group as we went through the programme together. One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the opportunity to work with a mentor. Having guidance from accomplished mentors gave me a fresh perspective on my goals and the confidence to pursue them.”