It’s not easy being a Kurd. As the saying goes, we have no friends but the mountains.

My childhood was marked by the war against ISIS and severe economic hardship. I spent a lot of time working on our family farm, not exactly the ideal environment for a future engineer. Yet, it was my family who introduced me to science. At home, they taught me math, physics, and the fundamentals of engineering far beyond the school curriculum. My brother and I would eagerly dismantle every electrical device we could get our hands on just to figure out how it worked. Looking back, my family had the greatest influence on my education. Although we lived through war and adversity, I had a happy childhood. I owe that entirely to my parents, and to our culture, which gave us the strength to survive.

Today, I am a proud graduate of the bachelor’s program at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEL) at the University of West Bohemia (UWB) in Pilsen. I came to the Czech Republic in 2021, and after a year and a half of preparation, I was admitted to the program. It was a dream come true.

What sets studying here apart from my previous academic and practical experiences is the incredible environment and infrastructure. FEL UWB is a place of constant inspiration. Wherever I looked, I saw opportunities to learn and innovate, from modern classrooms and the MakerSpace, where students turn ideas into real projects, to state-of-the-art laboratories at the RICE Research Center, one of the most advanced institutes in Central Europe. An environment like this naturally drives you to think, create, and push your knowledge further.

While I gained deep technical expertise during my studies, getting to know Czech culture and meeting wonderful people was just as important to me. I was fortunate to find my closest friends here: Kačka, Robert, Erik, Vít, Filip, David, Lukáš, and Lukáš. Thanks to them, university wasn't just about sitting in lecture halls; it became a time filled with unforgettable experiences. The Czech word that best captures my time here is “pohoda.” If I had to summarize my studies at FEL in three words, they would be: inspiring, enriching, and unforgettable. The Czech Republic has truly become my second home, a place where I’ve been able to grow both personally and professionally.

In my research, I focus on the challenges of modern power systems. Specifically, I develop mathematical models and optimization algorithms for energy system operation and planning. What I enjoy most is bridging theory with practice to find solutions for real-world systems

My goal is to continue my research and, in the future, support people in underprivileged regions of the world who lack access to quality education.

To anyone considering studying at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FEL) at UWB, I have just one message: don’t be afraid to take that first step. Studying abroad gives you far more than just a degree, it brings you lifelong friends, invaluable experiences, and a completely new perspective on the world.

Omar
Iraqi Kurdistan