Aurora Women in Leadership
Programme for 2025/26
Human Resources (HR) and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Office are delighted to invite applications for the Aurora Women in Leadership Programme 2025/26.
Aurora is a leadership ignition journey, inspiring women to aspire and achieve leadership positions within higher education. The objective of the programme is to embed a leadership mindset whereby women identify as leaders and seek appropriate opportunities to develop capabilities, skills, and networks to support them in their advancing careers.
How to Apply
To submit your application, please complete the Aurora 2025/26 application form by close of business on Friday, 18 July 2025. As part of your submission, you will be required to upload an email or letter of support from your Head of School or Head of Area/Unit.
Please note that the application form must be completed in one sitting — it cannot be saved and returned to later. To help you prepare your responses in advance, a draft version of the application form is available here.
About the 2025/26 Programme
The programme involves attending a series of online Advance HE workshops, in-person TCD reflection sessions, and regular mentor meetings from September 2025 until March 2026.
More details on the programme can be found below and on the Advance HE’s Aurora Programme website.
| Event | Date | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCD Aurora Programme Kick-off Workshop | Tuesday, 16 September 2025 | 9:30-13:00 | TCD |
| Advance HE Introduction Session | Wednesday, 24 September 2025 | 10:00-12:30 | Zoom |
| Advance HE Identity, Impact and Voice Session | Wednesday, 1 October 2025 | 10:00-15:00 | Zoom |
| TCD Identity, Impact and Voice Reflection Session | Tuesday, 7 October 2025 | 10:00-13:00 | TCD |
| Advance HE Core Leadership Skills Session | Wednesday, 5 November 2025 | 10:00-15:00 | Zoom |
| TCD Core Leadership Skills Reflection Session | Tuesday, 11 November 2025 | 10:00-13:00 | TCD |
| Advance HE Action Learning Sets 1 | Wednesday, 26 November 2025 | 10:00-15:00 | Zoom |
| Advance HE Politics and Influence Session | Wednesday, 17 December 2025 | 10:00-15:00 | Zoom |
| TCD Politics and Influence Reflection Session | Tuesday, 13 January 2026 | 10:00-13:00 | TCD |
| Advance HE Adaptive Leadership Skills Session | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 | 10:00-15:00 | Zoom |
| TCD Adaptive Leadership Skills Reflection Session | Tuesday, 20 January 2026 | 10:00-13:00 | TCD |
| Advance HE Your Future in HE Event | Tuesday, 24 February 2026 | 09:30-16:00 | Dublin |
| Advance HE Action Learning Set 2 | Wednesday, 11 March 2026 | 10:00-15:00 | Delegates' Self-host |
| TCD End of Programme Session | Tuesday, 24 March 2026 | 11:00-13:00 | TCD |
| Aurora Community Learning Groups Process Information |
Who is this programme for?
The programme is for women in the academic, research, professional, technical, and administrative grades, up to associate professor level or administrative equivalent, who would like to explore and develop their confidence and capability for leadership roles and responsibilities.
In this video, participants share their insights and reflections from the Aurora 2024/25 Programme, highlighting the challenges faced, skills acquired, and the impact on their personal and professional growth over the past year.
Mentoring
Mentoring is a key component of the Aurora programme. In collaboration with the manager, the applicant should identify a mentor for the programme and submit the details with this application accompanied by a confirmation email from them. (Please contact us at aurora.leadership@tcd.ie for a list of potential mentors).
A mentor will typically be more senior than the mentee and understands internal structures and organisational culture. A mentor should also have sufficient time available to work with the mentee, have strong listening skills and be able to ask good, open questions to help the participants develop their problem-solving skills and develop further. Training will be made available to mentors from 11 am to 12.30 pm on the Tuesday 23rd September 2025.
Employees who are committed to supporting this programme can get involved by becoming mentors. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, contact us at aurora.leadership@tcd.ie, please.
Programme Costs
The cost of the programme is €1,670 with places allocated as follows:
- Fully funded (50% HR and 50% EDI)
- Co funded at local area level (50% HR and EDI, 50% School/Unit).
- Full funding of places is also possible at local level.
Priority is given to applicants in Schools and Units that are progressing Athena Swan (re)applications and related Action Plans and to creating a balance of participants across the whole College Community.
Connection to Athena Swan Equality Charter
Athena SWAN is Advance HE’s gender equality charter, underpinned by a set of principles aiming to improve representation, progression, and culture within higher education and research institutions. The charter principles highlight several equality issues in higher education, and the Aurora programme is a useful initiative to support the aims of Athena Swan.
The Aurora Women in Leadership Programme is one of the flagship programmes that supports colleagues to develop leadership skills, and we are delighted to welcome applications for the 2025/26 Aurora cohort. Building leadership capacity and mainstreaming our commitment to gender equality in Trinity are key aspects of the important joint work between the HR Learning and Organisation Development Unit and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Office manifest through supporting this key programme.
Professor Lorraine Leeson, FTCD Associate Vice Provost for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (AVP-EDI)
The Aurora Programme is a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues in Trinity and the higher education sector across Ireland, and the UK. Run as a collaboration between Advance HE in conjunction with higher education institutions and advocates - known as Aurora Champions. Aurora is a leadership ignition journey, inspiring women to aspire and achieve leadership positions within higher education. I would like to extend an invitation to eligible staff to apply for this programme and to take the next steps in your career journey.
Michele Ryan, Head of Learning and Organisation Development
