Noura Alboushi Aldabbagh recently graduated as HAN student Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Royal Smit Transformers. After this graduation they offered her a job as a Junior Electrical Project Manager in Royal Smit’s research department. So happy to meet Noura, let’s have a social tech talk with her!

What exactly will you be doing at Royal Smit?

“I would say Royal Smit was the perfect option to do my internship at, aside from the fact that they also were highly flexible in everything. They definitely gave me space to be myself, explore, and just learn. I was really also super motivated to do my best! Now I am working on a project that has to do a bit with analyzing some data. Most of my work will be used to help making the work of others in Smit easier (I hope).”

What did you research for your studies at Royal Smit, so that it can be better understood for everyone?

“During my graduation project, I worked on the switching impulse test. This is a test that a power transformer must go through before it goes into operation. During this test the two untested phases should be connected for safety (based on international standards). My researched included if this connection is needed or not and come up with ways to measure impulse voltages and currents.”

What is it like to work as a woman in a world full of innovative smart and clean technology, which is rather a male-dominated world, especially in the Netherlands?

“I really love working on power engineering in the Netherlands, because, like you mentioned, it’s clean, up to date, and you see magic and future happening. But I really wish more women are in the technical world because I honestly think we as genders see stuff in different perspectives. I think woman care about details and that sure helped me during my work and study. So far, I had a good welcoming environment as a woman in this world. But I really tried my best to prove myself (working and studying) which sure payed off!”

What contribution would you like to make to a smarter, cleaner and, above all, more sustainable society?

“I really hope one day we will find ways to get to a green, sustainable environment that will stay here for next generations to come. During my work at Royal Smit, and in my future adventures where ever that may ends. I will be helping with projects that will help that in every direction. I also always try to educate people around me who don’t have a technical background of how important this topic is!”

That is really kind of you! Last question: why did you choose Electrical Engineering at HAN University of Applied Sciences?

“There are a couple of reasons why I chose Electrical Engineering at the HAN. To be honest, aside from that I love electrical engineering. The HAN was really flexible in terms of applying and helping me out finding my way. I knew about the HAN from my Dutch courses that I did also there. A lot of people who aren’t from the Engineering Facility helped me out to find my way. These reasons together with the fact that it is close to where I live really made this decision happen!”

Thanks a lot Noura. Best of luck at Royal Smit and hopefully your story will inspire more women to study Electrical Engineering at HAN in Arnhem, the Netherlands!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLkeAiF3iCE