Pfizer, GITAM to expand women-focused academic partnership

Pfizer and GITAM Deemed to be University are set to expand their academic partnership aimed at creating career opportunities for women through industry-linked education, following a review meeting held on the university campus on Thursday.

A high-level Pfizer delegation visited the university to assess the progress of the ongoing collaboration, under which 337 female students are pursuing the Pfizer-sponsored B.Sc. Chemistry programme designed to prepare them for careers in the pharmaceutical sector.

The delegation comprised Mcnicholas Marius, Katta Ravi Chander, T. Ravi Kiran and Akanksha Pandit.

The company representatives appreciated the university for providing a safe, supportive and academically enriching environment for the students, and for aligning the curriculum with evolving industry needs.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. Errol Dsouza said such partnerships played a key role in creating meaningful career pathways, particularly for young women from rural backgrounds.

Dean of the School of Science Prof. S. Anantha Ramakrishna proposed extending the collaboration to the Department of Life Sciences through a similar undergraduate programme and also explored the possibility of introducing a postgraduate course.

Mr. Ravi Kiran said Pfizer was internally examining expansion opportunities while taking operational factors into account. Mr. Ravi Chander said the company leadership had expressed its intent to launch another batch of the B.Sc. Chemistry programme at GITAM in the near future.

Head of the Chemistry Department Prof. N.V.S. Venugopal said the initiative stood out for integrating education with employment from the start of the students’ academic journey. Programme coordinators Dr. Alice R. Robert and Dr. G. Ravi Kumar were present.