"it is a privilege to give back"
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, donated £4.2 million to the University of Westminster.
The donation will fund the new Pathways to Excellence in Health and Life Sciences Programme, aimed at widening access to STEM education.
The initiative will support students and researchers while strengthening diversity, excellence and global impact across health and life sciences.
Applications for the programme are expected to open in early February via the University’s Scholarship webpage.
The scheme is designed to support learners from varied backgrounds and remove barriers to entering STEM disciplines.
The Serum Institute Pathways to Excellence Programme will provide multi-year funding for scholarships, studentships and fellowships. These will sit within the University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and span undergraduate to doctoral and advanced fellowship levels.
University leaders say the programme creates a long-term, inclusive pipeline for scientific talent.
Poonawalla graduated from Westminster’s Business Studies BA Honours course in 2002. He joined the Serum Institute of India, founded by his father Dr Cyrus S Poonawalla, and became CEO in 2011.
Under his leadership, the company expanded its reach from 30 to more than 170 countries. Over 14 years, turnover and production capacity tripled to four billion vaccine doses annually.
As CEO, he has overseen the development of vaccines for Pneumonia, Rotavirus and HPV. He has also collaborated with the University of Oxford on a Malaria vaccine.
His philanthropic work is delivered through The Villoo Poonawalla Charitable Foundation, established in memory of his late mother. The foundation has built schools and hospitals and runs waste management and clean water initiatives in Pune.
Poonawalla has also launched ventures, including Poonawalla Fincorp, offering loans to individuals and small businesses. He founded h2e Power Systems, a clean energy company focused on hydrogen-based fuel cells.
Adar Poonawalla said: “The University of Westminster played a formative role in my personal and professional journey, and it is a privilege to give back in a way that creates meaningful, long-term impact.
“Through the Pathways to Excellence in Health and Life Sciences Programme, we aim to widen access to STEM education, nurture diverse talent and empower the next generation of scientists and innovators who will address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.”
Professor Peter Bonfield, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University, said:
“Mr Poonawalla’s profound generosity marks a defining moment for the University of Westminster, underscoring the vital importance of global collaboration in driving scientific progress.
“This investment is an essential endorsement of our commitment to widening access and accelerating impactful research in STEM and Life Sciences.”
“By supporting exceptional talent across all levels, we are ensuring our graduates are equipped to be the future leaders who will deliver effective, sustainable solutions to global health disparities.”
Kaushika Patel, Head of College and Pro Vice-Chancellor of Liberal Arts and Sciences, added:
“We are honoured to be working with Mr Poonawalla and the Serum Institute of India to enable students at all levels to come to the University of Westminster to advance their learning in STEM education and research.
“It creates opportunities to engage in the advancement of Science for those who may not have been able to attend University or progress into higher levels of learning and research.”
Loading ...