Telecom Lead India: BlackBerry India says 55 percent of its customers are women.
The smartphone major wants to encourage its majority customers to come up in education and professional life.
Its new initiative is to offer ten full, four year university scholarships to outstanding female candidates in India, BlackBerry said on Monday.
BlackBerry Scholars Program is designed to inspire women to enter and develop careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The new program is managed by BlackBerry global creative director Alicia Keys.
BlackBerry Scholars Program, which will be live now, is available to women who are seeking degrees at accredited local colleges and universities in the areas of STEM across India.
Alicia Keys, global creative director, BlackBerry, said: “It’s important to connect the dots for young women in secondary school and college, and show them that careers in science and technology are within their reach.”
The scholars will be selected by a panel of inspirational and accomplished women, led by Alicia Keys, who will recruit candidates based on their academic merit and passion for entering the mobile computing industry.
This scholarship program is a part of a strategy to engage young women at every step of their education from secondary school to college, and as they rise through their careers.
As more than 55 percent of BlackBerry customers are women, BlackBerry aims to champion this generation of female leaders as they strive to achieve their ambitions in this highly-competitive industry.