UWC International is honoured to announce a substantial new commitment to the funding of UWC scholarships worldwide, given by the Scholae Mundi Foundation from Armenia, Russia and the UK and the Mahindra Group from India. Ruben Vardanyan and Veronika Zonabend, founders of the Scholae Mundi Foundation, and Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group, have joined forces to commit to providing US$ 7.5 million in need-based scholarships for meritorious students from around the world to study at UWC schools and colleges.

All three philanthropists are strong supporters of the UWC educational movement – Vardanyan and Zonabend founded UWC Dilijan in Armenia in 2014, and the Mahindra Group, led by Anand Mahindra, established UWC Mahindra College in India in 1997. At the occasion of this new joint pledge, UWC Mahindra College and UWC Dilijan have decided to establish a cross-scholarship system in recognition of the ongoing collaboration of the founders of both colleges: UWC Mahindra College will offer a place and a need-based scholarship covering up to 100% of all costs to a student from Armenia, and likewise, UWC Dilijan will offer a place and a need-based scholarship covering up to 100% of all costs to a student from India, for the next five years. 

Sir John Daniel, Chair of UWC International commented: “This extraordinary initiative of great entrepreneurs from different parts of the world will enable the UWC movement to reach out to more young people and provide them with a world-class international education. Learning and living at one of the 17 UWC colleges will support them in gaining the skills and intercultural competency needed to become ethical leaders for a better future.”

For more information about this major commitment and what it means for the UWC movement, please see the attached press release issued by the Scholae Mundi Foundation and Mahindra Group on 28 November 2017.