Maribor, Slovenia - ERASMUS+

When I first heard about the opportunity for international mobility during my first year of studying for a Bachelor’s degree in GEII at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, I didn’t think much of it. It was January, and I had flagged the email to look at later. A few days passed, and I decided to check it again. The application process was straightforward: a curriculum vitae in English, a motivational letter, transcripts, and identification documents. The hardest part was choosing a destination. I picked Canada as my first choice but got stuck on the second option. After some research, I landed on Maribor, Slovenia—a calm and charming city in the Balkans. I submitted my application and waited.

Months later, in September, I received an email that I had been accepted to study in Maribor! Although I was also accepted in Canada, the programs weren’t compatible, and my department suggested Slovenia was a better fit. The countdown began as I prepared for my February 26th entry date. I left Paris on February 19th and embarked on a 24-hour journey to Ljubljana, followed by a bus ride to Maribor. My first impression? The city was beautiful, with an atmosphere that felt entirely new to me. I quickly found accommodation in a lovely apartment and settled in, ready to start this new chapter.

One of the most enriching parts of my experience was the social aspect. I joined several integration events where I met people from all over Europe—friends I still keep in contact with today. We shared stories, exchanged ideas, and bonded over fun activities like skiing, hiking, and even partying. It was incredible to connect with people from such diverse backgrounds, and these interactions helped shape a memorable part of my Erasmus experience.

When it came to academics, I chose five courses totaling 30 ECTS: Control Systems I, Electric Drives, Electrical Devices in Power Systems, Information Security Fundamentals, and Introduction to Circuit Analysis. Each class felt like a perfect blend of my interests in computer science and electronic technology. Control Systems deepened my understanding of automated processes, while Electric Drives gave me hands-on experience with the technologies behind modern transportation systems. Information Security, though new to me, quickly became a subject I was passionate about, particularly as I dove into cybersecurity, learning about vulnerabilities, encryption, and how to safeguard data.

At the University of Maribor, passing a subject depended on three aspects: homework and projects, oral exams and presentations, and a final paper exam. The practical side was a significant part of the learning process, and I had the chance to manipulate machines and work directly with equipment. Additionally, I gave more oral presentations than in any other semester, which greatly improved my public speaking skills and enhanced my fluency in English, as all of these presentations were conducted in the language. These courses not only broadened my technical skills but also sparked new areas of interest, especially in cybersecurity.

Outside the classroom, the travel opportunities were endless. Together with friends, I visited Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and Italy. Each trip was an adventure, filled with new sights, cultures, and experiences that added another layer to this incredible journey. Slovenia itself is an underrated gem—a country rich with natural beauty, from its mountains to its lakes, and Maribor, with its historic charm and welcoming community, was the perfect place to experience it all.

My First Year in BACHELORE GEII

In 2022, after obtaining my high school diploma in Morocco, I applied to several schools and programs both in Morocco and France. One of the programs was the “Bachelor Universitaire Technologique” (University Bachelor of Technology), and just a few days before my baccalaureate exams, I received an invitation for an oral interview with a professor from the Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering and Industrial Computing (GEII) program. The professor, who was French, was impressed by my previous experience in electronics and technology, mentioning how many first-year students usually start with little to no prior knowledge in the field. The conversation flowed easily, almost like talking to a friend, as we exchanged ideas about the field, and he explained their program in detail. Shortly after passing my high school exams with excellent marks, I sent in my transcripts, and as I expected, a few days later, I received my acceptance letter into the BUT Génie Électrique et Informatique Industrielle (Electrical Engineering and Industrial Computing) program at the University of Troyes, France.

Moving to France alone to pursue my studies was a significant change, but the excitement overshadowed any nervousness. I remember my first day vividly—after a warm welcome from the university director, we went straight into the labs. For someone like me, who always enjoyed hands-on work more than theory, this was heaven. We began working on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) right away, learning how to solder components, each student creating their own board. This PCB had ultrasonic pins, buttons, joysticks, LEDs, and more. It was a versatile tool that we would use throughout the semester to grasp the basics of electronics and programming. From that moment, I knew I had made the right choice, as the practical approach to learning was exactly what I had been seeking.

In the course of the year, I took four main subjects that were central to my learning: Electronics, Computer Science, Automation, and Energy. In Electronics, I deepened my understanding of electrical circuits and the fundamental laws that govern them, such as Kirchhoff's laws. I also explored diode circuits and operational amplifiers, learning to design and analyze these systems. The hands-on experience extended to the use of function generators and oscilloscopes for signal analysis. We also studied transient and steady-state regimes, functional schematics, and filters. Each of these concepts came to life through practical work, which included building circuits and analyzing their behavior.

In Computer Science, I studied C++ programming, focusing on the basics such as input/output, string manipulation, structures, and arrays. We worked on practical projects like creating a keypad-based digicode and explored more advanced topics like Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC) and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), which are essential for controlling devices in embedded systems. A major part of the course involved using peripherals like I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) components and learning how to communicate between microcontrollers and external devices. I also gained experience in controlling DC motors and managing the speed and position of these motors using I2C.

Automation was another key area of study, where we learned about combinatory logic, including basic operations such as AND, OR, and NOT. I got hands-on experience with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) such as the TWIDO, learning to program them for machine control applications. We also explored the Grafcet system, a graphical tool used to model and specify automated systems. This course equipped me with practical skills in controlling electromechanical systems and pneumatic devices, making automation one of the most engaging subjects for me.

Lastly, in Energy, we focused on electrical quantities like voltage, current, and power, as well as how to measure them. I learned about low-voltage installations and their importance in commercial buildings. We delved into DC machines, understanding their characteristics and applications. One of the highlights was learning about safety protocols, such as grounding systems and differential protection. We practiced using software like Schemaplic to simulate electrical systems, which gave me a solid understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of electrical engineering.

Looking back on my first year, I can confidently say that the BUT GEII program has equipped me with a strong foundation in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The hands-on approach allowed me to directly apply what I was learning, from programming microcontrollers to designing circuits. It was a challenging year, but one that solidified my passion for electronics and industrial computing. I am excited to continue building on these skills in the coming years, as there is still so much more to explore in this ever-evolving field.

My First Internship EXPERIENCE

Back in 2021, after finishing my second year of high school, I was deeply passionate about technology. From a young age, I experimented with basic electronics—simple setups with batteries and motors. Late in secondary school, I discovered Arduino, which marked a turning point for me. I received my first Arduino kit and began building basic projects with buttons and LEDs. My curiosity led me to explore shields and sensors, and soon I found a local electronics company called Moussasoft that sold Arduino and Raspberry Pi components.

Moussasoft wasn’t just a store—it was also a research office, which caught my attention. I became a regular customer, purchasing components and discussing my projects with the owner. He offered invaluable advice and shared insights about the company's ongoing projects. One day, while chatting about a new project, the owner mentioned a versatile robot they were developing to help people learn programming with Arduino. To my excitement, he offered me an internship to work on this project. As a high school student, this was a dream come true—an opportunity to intern at one of the top tech startups in my city.

During the internship, I worked alongside two university students, Abdelghafor and Achraf, who were completing their final projects. We collaborated on building a robot equipped with ultrasonic and infrared sensors, rechargeable batteries, and a Bluetooth module. The robot could avoid obstacles, follow lines, and be controlled via Bluetooth. While I won't delve into the technical details here (you can check my portfolio for that), the project was a great learning experience, combining both hardware and programming.

One of the biggest takeaways from this internship was discovering the world beyond Arduino and Raspberry Pi. I learned about PCBs (Printed Circuit Boards) and how to design custom boards, moving away from bulky circuits with long cables. I’ll cover this in more detail in another article, but what I truly learned during this internship was that “I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING.” As a high schooler who had successfully built a few projects, I was unknowingly under the Dunning-Kruger effect, believing I was more advanced than I really was. The internship opened my eyes to the vast sea of information in the tech world and how little I actually knew. By the end of my two-month internship, I gained a wealth of new skills and a fresh perspective. I left with the realization that, while I had learned a lot, there was still so much more for me to discover.