Aurora: Women’s Leadership Development Programme
Background
The Aurora Programme has been designed to encourage women in academic and
professional roles to think about themselves as leaders, to develop leadership skills
and to help institutions maximise the potential of these women. The programme is
run by the Leadership Foundation and aimed at women in academic and
professional roles up to senior lecturer level or professional services equivalent
(Grade 9, but without substantial leadership experience) who would like to develop
and explore issues relating to leadership roles and responsibilities.
Participants need to have the endorsement of their institution and be committed to
developing and enhancing their career. They should be ambitious for a career in the
sector and interested in exploring leadership and management as one option for
progression.
What Aurora Covers
The Aurora programme addresses core areas associated with leadership success:
 Understanding organisations and the sector;
 Developing leadership behaviours, skills and knowledge;
 Identifying and overcoming barriers and obstacles;
 Growing confidence and a leadership identity;
 Building networks, coalitions and support processes.
Aurora addresses these areas by using a combination of: development days (four,
at approximately monthly intervals); action learning sets organised and delivered
locally; self-directed learning that follows the interests, needs and time constraints of
participants; and in-house mentoring.
Aurora Champion
Laura Gibbs, Registrar, is the SOAS Aurora Champion. Laura is involved in selecting
and supporting the participants and in championing women’s leadership in the
School.
Selection criteria and process
A panel will be convened to review applications, and in this round funding is
available for up to 4 members of staff. The successful applicants will be female,
employed by the School on the academic or professional support pathways and in
roles up to and including Grade 9 / Senior Lecturer level (but without substantial
leadership experience). They will demonstrate:
 An interest in their own career development and evidence of continuous
professional development;
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 Competence and good performance in their current role, and give an
explanation of why this is a good time for them to participate in the Aurora
programme;
 Awareness of issues facing women leaders in higher education and a
willingness to work with others in the School to remove barriers to career
progression for women;
 Ability and commitment to comply with the programme requirements.
Additionally the panel will seek to identify from the pool of applicants a diverse group
drawn from across SOAS.
Nomination Form
If you would like to be considered for a place on this course, read the information to
check you can comply with all the conditions and complete the application form. This
should be sent to Serena Yeo sy3@soas.ac.uk or the Staff Learning and
Development Office in room 472 by 30 November 2015.
Further information about the programme is available on the Leadership Foundation
web pages www.lfhe.ac.uk. If you are unsure of your suitability or wish to discuss the
programme please contact Serena Yeo, Staff Learning and Development Manager
(sy3@soas.ac.uk).
Timeline
Application closing date: 30 November, 2015
Decision: Week ending 11 December, 2015
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Nomination Form for Aurora Programme Feb-Jun 2016
Part A - Personal Details (completed by applicant)
Name:
Job title:
Tel:
Email:
Grade:
Start date in current role:
Department:
Line Manager:
Selection Aurora Programme dates
The Aurora Programme consists of five interlinked days – four workshops and an
Action Learning Set. You are required to attend each of the four development days
below plus the Action Learning Set day, so you must be available to attend all dates
below.
Aurora London 2
1. Identity, Impact and Voice - Tuesday 23 February 2016
2. Power and Politics - Tuesday 12 March 2016
3. Action Learning Set* - Tuesday 12 April 2016: Delegates agree a host
institution
4. Core Leadership Skills - Tuesday 17 May 2016
5. Adaptive Leadership Skills Tuesday 16 June 2016
The Leadership Foundation for Higher Education and SOAS have identified the
following requirement for participation in the programme.
Please tick to indicate your agreement to:





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Attend all four delivery days plus an Action Learning Set day;
Meet regularly with a mentor at SOAS (Staff Learning and Development will
help you with this if necessary);
Engage actively in the mentoring opportunity;
Participate in further networking events, briefings at SOAS and further
activities to support your personal development;
Participate as a support member for future participants on the 2015/2016
programme;
Participate in a longitudinal study to gauge the effectiveness of Aurora and
provide SOAS with feedback on the programme.
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Part B – Personal statement questions (please see the selection criteria)
Please explain why you want to participate in the Aurora Programme. You should include
your career aims, how participation in Aurora will help you and your department/directorate,
and why this is a good time for you to commence Aurora. (Max 300 words)
Explain why you think you should be chosen for the Aurora programme. You should
include details about your competence and achievements in your current or recent roles. (Max
200 words)
What management training have you had, including any courses attended at SOAS? You
should include details about when this was and what impact you think this had.
(Max 200 words)
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Give two recent examples (last 1 – 3 years) of activities you have undertaken to support
your professional development. Explain what you did, why and what impact you think this
has had. (Max 200 words)
Describe what you see as being some of the barriers women in higher education face in
attaining leadership positions. What would you like to see the School doing to address
any of these. (Max 200 words)
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Part C – Line Manager’s Supporting Statement
Please explain how the applicant’s personal and professional development
will be enhanced by taking part in this programme. (Max 200 words)
Please explain why this is a good time for the applicant to be considering
this programme and the leadership side of their role. (Max 200 words)
Please explain how the Department and/or Directorate plans to support
development of the applicant’s leadership potential over a) the next year,
and b) beyond; e.g. specific projects, networking opportunities. (Max 200
words)
I recommend the above applicant and will have a formal planning meeting after the
first module (23 February 2016) and a formal review meeting at the end of the
programme (by 31 July 2016).
Signed:
Print Name:
Date:
Position:
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