

The University of Sydney has become the largest beneficiary of philanthropy in the state following a donation of $100 million toward addressing the underrepresentation of women studying and working in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
The money, donated by tech founder Robin Khuda, will fund a two-decade program for girls starting in year 7, and highlights the need for more engagement from girls and women in Western Sydney.
The donation is the largest single philanthropic donation in the university’s history, and the across the state.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Scott said that the university and Khuda had been consulting on the program for two years.
” I want to give back and make a long term positive societal impact because of my belief in the importance of diversity in STEM,” said Khuda in a University of Sydney statement.
“My vision, shared with the University of Sydney, is that this program that we’ve created will become a game-changing template that others can leverage and scale in the future.”
Western Sydney history
Robin Khuda lived in Western Sydney are moving to Australia from Bangladesh when he was 18, and began his business there in 2017.
Although an alum of Western Sydney University, Khuda said he close to work with the University of Sydney because of their shared interested in the growth of Western Sydney.
“Western Sydney, compared to other areas of Sydney, hasn’t had the same level of educational support for students to pursue an early interest in science and technology,” said Khuda.
“A leader in STEM education, the University has an outstanding academic, research and teaching reputation and the flexibility and agility to deliver and evolve this program. The women who graduate from this program will have attended one of the best universities in the world, ready to make a game-changing impact on our future.”
The program will reach students beginning in year 7, and offers a pipeline to an undergraduate degree through specialisations in STEM subjects.
The outreach stage will commence with six schools, with the first pilot cohort scholars expected to enrol at the university in 2027.
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