Academic Women Aspiring to Leadership

The Academic Women Aspiring to Leadership (AWAL) Program is open to academic women at Levels A, B, and C, who have identified that their future career path may include a leadership component e.g. Head of School; leadership of a research team; Director of a Centre; Chair of a Unit etc.  The program consists of a series of five compulsory modules spread throughout the year during non-teaching periods, and two half day workshops. Nominations are invited at the beginning of each year and 20 places are offered on each program.

The AWAL Program aims to assist women to:

• learn about different leadership styles and to develop ways of strengthening personal leadership
• understand the nature of power in organisations, and to develop techniques for becoming personally empowered as a woman in leadership and in an academic environment
• increase confidence and skills needed to pursue desired career choices
• explore the process of change in universities and ways to successfully lead and respond to these change processes
• increase knowledge and skills of assertive communication and its effective use in leadership
• benefit from informative and inspiring role models from within the University
• become part of a collegial support network and strategic alliance of women from different Faculties/Schools/campuses.

The program will involve senior academic women from across the University in a presentation and discussion of their own career paths, and a sharing of successful strategies for achieving promotion and career satisfaction. This will enable participants to further extend their networks.

There is no cost to individuals or budget centres, as this is a centrally funded program. Participants may self-nominate, but as places are limited, it is strongly recommended that you forward a statement from your Head of School in support of your application.

Statements from previous participants:

• 'The highlight is the sense of empowerment I have gained re self worth, assertion and conflict resolution. Many thanks for your time and energy and focus on the course...'
• '[The facilitator] is very inspirational and gives 110%. She has such a great depth of knowledge and a great capacity to share and deliver it.'
• 'This course was the most valuable professional development I have done in my 9 years at Deakin.'
• '[Today's session] helped me put things in perspective and gave me the skills and confidence to tackle issues related to being an academic.'
• 'This is a terrific program - I have been implementing everything in my work'

2011 Program dates

Please submit your application for the 2011 Program (49 KB) by April 15.

For more information on the AWAL program please contact Kerri Lawrence, Senior Consultant (Academic Culture and Leadership), ext 72471.