From the originally foreign student from Syria, fascinated by everything connected with electricity, there was an associate professor working at the Institute of Microelectronics within FEEC BUT over time. He settled permanently in the Czech Republic. Fabian Khateb is one of the three BUT academics appointed by the President of the Republic this year.

It was in Damascus shortly after graduation when one evening a classmate who had a Czech mother called me to say goodbye to me, because he was going to fly to the Czech Republic to study at university. I asked him to send me information about the possibilities of studying in the Czech Republic. And so began my story. When I was a child, my parents gave me a bicycle that was made in Czechoslovakia. Sometimes we watched Czech fairy tales (with subtitles) on TV. However, it never occurred to me that the Czech Republic would become my second home. Soon after arriving in the Czech Republic, I celebrated my eighteenth birthday and began attending a one-year intensive Czech language course in Mariánské Lázně. Since I was interested in microelectronics and everything connected with electricity, studying at BUT was an ideal choice for me.

But microelectronics was not your only concern. What other field did you choose?

I successfully completed the study of Electronic Production and Management at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication Technologies, at the same time I also studied Management and Business Economics at the Faculty of Business and Management. Subsequently, I successfully completed my doctoral studies at both faculties.

Studying two fields in Czech at the same time at two different faculties was often exhausting, especially in the beginning, when it was necessary to learn the basic terminology and phrases of each of the fields. It often took long hours. In addition, it was problematic to coordinate the schedule so that I could attend all lectures and trainings. I did a lot of running around at that time. Nevertheless, I have nice memories of my studies, especially friends not only from the Czech Republic, but also from abroad, with whom I spent my free time and shared common hobbies.

You mentioned taking an intensive language course. Have you ever encountered a language barrier?

Not today. The most demanding were the aforementioned beginnings of university studies. The Czech language is complicated, especially its system of grammar rules. Their observance is relatively difficult in communication practice.

What advice would you give to future international students?

My advice is no different from the one I would give to Czech students, and that is above all a responsible approach to study. BUT is a prominent university that provides young people with a beautiful opportunity to apply both at home and abroad.

After completing my doctoral studies, I was employed at FEEC and at FBM BUT. Out of love for my mother country, Syria, I had a great vision for building cooperation between BUT and especially the leading Syrian universities. The BUT management very much welcomed this cooperation and subsequently the memoranda of cooperation were signed with the most important universities in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. As part of this six-year collaboration, of which I was the coordinator, several mutual visits and workshops took place and dozens of Syrian assistants completed their doctoral studies at BUT. Unfortunately, it was stopped in 2012 due to the turbulent situation there.

When did you decide to stay in the Czech Republic permanently? What led you to this and how did the Czech Republic gain you?

For twenty-five years I lived far from my homeland in a country that became my home. A professional career was the main motive to settle here. I have been married for seven years to a Czech wife and we are raising two children together. In the Czech Republic, I prefer the Christmas atmosphere and nature. Endless greenery is rare in my home country.

How did your professional life develop further?

Nine years ago, I became an associate professor in the field of Electrical and Electronic Technology and began to build international cooperation with important experts from, for example, Greece, Poland, Thailand and Brazil. Thanks to this cooperation, several new techniques and concepts have been implemented for the design of integrated circuits with extremely low supply voltage, which can be used in biomedical applications. The results of the cooperation were published in international prestigious journals. For several years I have been the editor of the editorial board of four impact journals. These activities are time consuming, but at the same time interesting and motivating.

The path to professorship required intensive work, patience and confidence. Fortunately, I was accompanied all the time by the support of my family and colleagues from BUT, who wished me success with all their heart and whom I would like to thank again on this occasion. However, gaining a professorship does not end the story. I want to continue to strive to contribute new knowledge in the field at the international level and to continue to strengthen and expand foreign cooperation.

Jana Franchi

Photo archive of Fabian Khateb

Source: Časopis Události z VUT