Apply for Aurora 2026/27: leadership development initiative for women

Applications are now open for LJMU staff to apply for the Advance HE Aurora programme, a leadership development initiative for women. 

The programme runs over a six-month period and brings together regional cohorts of women from across the higher education sector. The programme is delivered through a mixture of online development days and action learning sets, as well as an in-person development day towards the end of the programme. Participants are also supported by mentors from their institution. 

How to apply for the Aurora programme

LJMU is sponsoring places for the 2026/27 cohort which begins on Thursday 21 January 2027. The deadline to submit an application is 5pm on Friday 16 October 2026.

Further information about applying is available on the Organisational Development Aurora programme webpage.

If you are interested in applying, please complete the application form outlining why you would like to participate, sharing personal or professional examples of leadership and influence to date, and explaining the perceived benefits of your participation. In addition, a supporting statement from your line manager is required as part of the application process.

Who Aurora is for?

Aurora is for women, 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.

The greatest benefit I gained from Aurora was confidence

LJMU staff member and Aurora alum, Rachel McCloskey

What you will learn?

Participants will explore four key areas associated with leadership success: identity, impact and voice; core leadership; politics and influence; and adaptive leadership skills. You will also take part in two action learning sets to reflect on a professional challenge or opportunity and attend an in-person event to bring together learning from across the whole programme. Participants will also be supported by mentors from their institution.

LJMU Academic Administration Manager, Faculty of Society and Culture and Aurora alum, Rachel McCloskey shares her experience:

“The greatest benefit I gained from Aurora was confidence. I started the programme feeling apprehensive about the Action Learning Sets, having never participated in this type of group work before, but the experience challenged me in a positive way and helped me grow. I also really enjoyed the face-to-face Your Future in HE session, which was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come together at the end of the programme, share experiences and learn from one another. What made the biggest difference for me, however, was my mentor. Through her support, encouragement and belief in me, I developed greater confidence in my own abilities and felt empowered to pursue opportunities I might previously have overlooked. Following one particularly inspiring conversation, I applied to become a parent governor at my daughter's school and was appointed. The mentoring relationship has continued beyond Aurora and remains one of the most valuable outcomes of the programme.”

Further questions

Since its launch in 2013 more than 16,000 women from over 200 different institutions across the UK and Ireland have participated, including up to 150 LJMU colleagues. 

If you would like furthers details on the programme, or have any questions, please email Organisational Development.