As International Women’s Day comes by again, it’s important that those of us in higher education take the time to reflect on women’s access to the sector. This year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action’, inspired by the fact that, as per current estimations, it will take until 2158 to reach ‘full gender parity’ (International Women’s Day, 2025). ‘Accelerate Action’ demands that each sector of society takes action to tackle gender disparities with urgency.

In February of this year, I took a step toward leadership growth by joining the Aurora Programme, an initiative designed to address the under-representation of women in leadership roles within higher education. I was drawn to the programme for its structured development approach and the opportunity to connect with and learn from other aspiring and established women leaders in the sector. As I reflect on my journey so far, I am both inspired and hopeful for the future of women in academia.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8th March every year, commemorating the political and cultural achievements of women, and the power that we yield when working as a collective. IWD also stands as a reminder that achieving true gender equality is still far from sight, and that we must fight to be truly free from the patriarchy.

In January, I joined Aurora, the Advance Higher Education leadership programme for women. But why I would need a women’s leadership programme? Wouldn’t it be seen as an unfair advantage over others who don’t have access to such programmes? Does this mean that I lack leadership skills and need extra support?

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate ‘women’, and what better way than to acknowledge women’s progress as capable leaders of our society despite professional and societal barriers. Imagine the great powers women could achieve if we worked by helping each other rise – working as a sisterhood! Dr. Sayema Rahman Khan and Dr. Lei Zeng here share their journey, experiences and expectations from the Aurora program.