Vidya Shree was still in high school when she suffered a shocking loss: Her father died, leaving the family unsure how they could pay for college. The loss of income was a strain on finances at a time when they were already consumed by grief. Then, an amazing gift, a scholarship from The ABB Jürgen Dormann Foundation (JDF), restored her dream and helped keep her family’s future intact. The scholarship paid for Vidya – whose name means knowledge, science, learning – to receive a proper education and also enabled her to compete in international academic competitions. Vidya landed a job offer from Airbus in the final year of her studies.
The JDF was founded in 2007 in Baden, Switzerland. The foundation was established in honor of Jürgen Dormann. Mr. Dormann was ABB’s Chairman and CEO from 2001 to 2007 and successfully led ABB through a very uncertain time in its history. The foundation’s goal is to inspire students to become future leaders in technology by breaking down barriers that prevent them from entering engineering fields.
JDF scholarships enable high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds to further their education free from financial pressures. They are awarded for a maximum of five years of study, covering tuition, fees, books and living expenses. Recipients are invited to regional and international events hosted by ABB and are assigned a local mentor who actively supports their development. The students also have internship opportunities and are considered for employment with ABB at the end of their studies.
Globally, over 260 scholarships have been awarded. The scholars come from a total of 15 universities in 12 countries.
During her recent visit to Bangalore, India, our CHRO Silvia Hill was delighted to meet with recent scholarship recipients. You can read more about JDF scholars in the story published in the Times of India.
