A decade after arriving in the city without a penny, an Edinburgh Napier University student who escaped civil war in Syria has celebrated his graduation as an engineer.
Mohamad Nour Alhoulani and his family were forced to flee the sudden outbreak of armed conflict in 2011 – travelling over mountainous routes to neighbouring Lebanon as their homeland was destroyed.
Following years in a refugee camp, they were offered the chance to move to Scotland through a UN programme in 2016. They made their home in Edinburgh, where Mohamad began taking English classes – which led to college and later university.
Now, the 31-year-old has graduated from Edinburgh Napier with a BEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering degree, which he celebrated alongside is parents, wife and three children at the Usher Hall.
Mohamad said: “The revolution began when I was 16 years old. Like many other people, my family and I were forced to leave our home. It was destroyed piece by piece, and we had to keep moving to avoid the bombing.
“We went to Lebanon, where we lived in a refugee camp. Life there was extremely difficult, and I had to work in very hard jobs to earn money and support my family.
“When I was 21 years old, I was given the opportunity to come to Scotland through the United Nations resettlement programme. It was a new beginning for me, but it was also a huge challenge.
“I arrived with zero money. I had three dollars in Lebanese lira, which I used to buy a bottle of water in a Turkish airport on the way.
“When we got here I didn't understand people when they spoke, or the culture. But I wanted to learn quickly.
“A local organisation called The Welcoming helped me to take language classes at the local community centre. I started volunteering with them soon afterwards.
“I would never have imagined I would go from that situation to be graduating today.”
Once Mohamed got used to life in Scotland, he decided on a new career path – engineering.
He completed several courses at Edinburgh College, while also working and raising his young children, before being accepted to study at Edinburgh Napier University.
Mohamad added: “I decided to study electrical engineering because I wanted to develop a professional career, find stable employment and create better opportunities for my children.
“We had the opportunity to come to Scotland, so I also want to be able to do something to make a positive difference for people here.
“I took to it pretty quickly. I remember one project where we made a little robot car – and I was so happy when it worked! I found I enjoyed solving problems.
“Today, I look back at it all with satisfaction and gratitude. I am thankful for the opportunities I have received in Scotland, for the people who supported me, and most importantly, for the chance to continue learning.”
Mohamad graduated alongside fellow students from Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Computing, Engineering & the Built Environment.