Firoz Lalji with PfAL students Maria Moore
LSE alumnus Firoz Lalji and his family have made an extraordinary commitment of $35m to LSE to create the Firoz Lalji Global Hub, which will enhance the School’s world-leading events and extended education programmes on campus, online and around the world.
Theis exciting new development was revealed by Baroness Minouche Shafik at the launch of LSE's new Shaping the World Campaign on Tuesday 2 November. Located at 35 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the Global Hub will create a world-class digital environment which advances the School's founding purpose “to know the causes of things for the betterment of society” through world-class social science teaching and learning, research and external engagement.
Using new technology and exceptional conference facilities, teaching spaces and digital labs, the Global Hub will be a flagship centre for LSE, better facilitating executive education, summer schools, short residencies and an annual events programme. The Hub will help to advance life-long learning, knowledge and understanding among the School’s alumni, friends and partners alongside our campus community of students and staff.
Enduring LSE connection
Firoz Lalji has maintained an enduring connection to LSE since graduating in 1969, characterised by his and wife Najma’s generous support for the School. He is donor and founder of the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa and associated Programme for African Leadership, Chair of LSE’s North American Advisory Board, and was appointed as an inaugural Shaping the World Campaign Co-Chair.
Commenting on the gift and creation of the Firoz Lalji Global Hub, Mr Lalji said: “I was inspired by the LSE Director’s vision of bringing the world together in London and online to debate the greatest global challenges of our time, where debate is inclusive yet diverse, in a respectful and neutral context. This will create a sustainable future not only for LSE, but for communities, countries and society at large. I am also delighted this facility will create a permanent home for the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa and the Programme for African Leadership, providing extensive digital infrastructure for blended delivery.”
The gift, through the Lalji Family Foundation, takes Mr Lalji’s support of LSE to over $50m, the largest alumni gift commitment in LSE history.
Intellectually rigorous
Welcoming the announcement, LSE Director Baroness Minouche Shafik added: “We are immensely grateful to Firoz, Najma and all their family for their continued generosity and vision for the future, bringing hope after such a turbulent global period. LSE events are dynamic, intellectually rigorous programmes that are a key mode of academic knowledge transfer, projecting our identity globally and convening the finest minds through LSE. The Firoz Lalji Global Hub will facilitate our delivery of these events, in person and online, through the very best technology and digital facilities.”
For more information on our Shaping the World Campaign and how you can support LSE’s research, teaching and public engagement please visit shapingtheworld.lse.ac.uk