From war-torn Syria to first class honours in Software Engineering at UWTSD
21.07.2020
Mohamad Wael Baghdadi, who fled Syria in 2012 has achieved first class honours in Software Engineering from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD).
Mohamad qualified in international travel and tourism management in Syria and worked in this field for several years, but after the revolution started in Syria, the situation became unsafe for him.
“I left my country in 2012, leaving behind my family, work, friends and my whole life,” he says. “I thought the situation wouldn't take long to be able to go back to my home.”
In 2012 Mohamad Wael travelled to Turkey then to Lebanon, where he worked in a travel agency for almost a year, but the situation in Lebanon was not safe because it is near the border with Syria, so he decided to travel to the United Kingdom to stay for a few months until the end of the war Syria.
“Those few months are now seven years,” he says. “Since I came to the UK in 2013 I have joined many English courses and worked in many different places, and because my passion was always in computing, new technologies and programming languages I joined the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in 2017 to study Software Engineering.”
He adds that he is delighted to have completed the degree with flying colours.
“It feels great to have achieved a first,” he says. “I really enjoyed the course, everything at this University was great, the lecturers were really helpful, and they supported me a lot to achieve what I was looking for, It’s given me a push to join the masters at the same university and I feel it’s a good step towards a career. These studies are really important for our future as humans and good for the industry as a whole.”
Programme manager Dr Tim Bashford is delighted with what Mohamad has achieved:
“We are all extremely pleased that Mohamad is graduating with first class honours,” he says. “He has worked incredibly hard throughout the last three years despite difficult personal circumstances. From entering our BSc in Software Engineering with limited programming skills, his endless work ethic and motivation to succeed have allowed him to thrive. We know he will be a credit to the software development industry, but are extremely pleased that he will be with us for another year, having just been accepted on our MSc in Software Engineering - we look forward to welcoming him back in September!”
Further Information
Rebecca Davies
Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau
Executive Press and Media Relations Officer
Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus
Corporate Communications and PR
Tel: 01792 483695
Mobile: 07384 467071
Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk
