Pfizer Healthcare India Private Limited has partnered with GITAM Deemed to be University to train rural women under the fifth batch of its Pfizer Autonomous Teams (PAT) programme, which was inaugurated on Wednesday.

According to the university, more than 50 female students have joined a three-year B.Sc. Chemistry programme alongside training in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Pfizer screened around 500 candidates from 15 rural villages in north Andhra for the programme.

The current batch has an average age of 19, with 77% of participants from the local area. The university said around 350 women had joined Pfizer’s workforce through the programme over the past four years.

GITAM officials urged Pfizer to extend similar support to postgraduate programmes. Pfizer officials said the initiative combines academic education with manufacturing experience and structured skill development.