Personal Development for women - Springboard
An Award-Winning Personal Development Programme for Women
Find yourself, be yourself, like yourself!
What is Springboard?
Springboard is an award-winning three-month personal development programme designed especially for women. It has been created to enable women to achieve greater recognition and influence and to fulfil their potential in both their work and personal lives. Springboard supports the University’s Single Equality Scheme in giving women the tools to develop themselves and their own careers, and is one way of ensuring that women continue to be represented, particularly at more senior levels in the University.
Springboard programmes are run around the world for all sorts of organisations including universities, government departments, city councils, banks, the BBC & the police to name but a few.
The programme has helped thousands of women to develop their confidence, assertiveness and personal and work relationships.
What does it cover?
- self and skills assessment
- identifying your values
- the world about you
- setting goals
- assertiveness
- networking
- putting yourself across positively
- building your image
"The Springboard Programme has been life changing for me - and awakening. It has certainly unlocked my potential and I look forward to fulfilling this."
"Springboard has enabled me to critically review myself and equipped me to make the changes I need to, to improve at work and for myself"
Target Audience:
As this programme is part of the University’s Equality Strategy, and is one way that we are trying to increase participation of women in more senior roles in the University, it is currently open to staff on grades 5 and above, in clerical, technical, ancillary, research, academic and managerial/professional roles.
Our experience of working with participants on Springboard highlights that women tend to have similar issues in relation to personal and career development, regardless of role. Therefore in 2010/11 we will run a combined programme for support, academic and managerial/professional specialist staff. Research staff (including those in roles such as research assistant and research fellow) have their own programme, as this is funded separately.
Why is it just for women?
Springboard is pro-women but definitely not anti-men. Research has found that on personal development programmes women thrive better in a supportive, all female environment. Women have a lot to learn from each other on the programme and discuss home, relationships and health issues as well as work.
Don’t men need a similar programme?
Research shows that more women than men need help with such things as confidence, assertiveness and work life balance. SDDU is currently only licensed to run the programme for women. However, we do run other personal development courses which are open to all staff, and details of these can be found on our Personal Development pages.
What is included in the Springboard Programme?
Useful web links for female staff and information on networking
Dates of next courses and application forms
Springboard impact evaluation - a report based on a survey of former Springboard participants from 2006-2010