Telecommunications Transmits to Success for QCC Student
Zahin Khan comes from a family of engineers.
They encouraged him to major in Engineering Technology because in their words, “QCC’s wireless engineering equipment is considered among the best, even at four-year colleges and in the work place.”
Khan, who considers himself a practical hands-on guy, agrees. For the past two years he has excelled in wireless engineering, a method of transmitting data over long distances; and has spent many hours working in the lab with state-of-the-art electromagnetic field equipment.
His mentor, senior CUNY lab technician and adjunct lecturer Enrique Haro, teaches the theory and principles of Radio Frequency (RF) engineering. In his class students study wireless communication links, modulation and demodulation methods, receivers and transmitters, transmission lines and antennas among other topics relevant to digital communications, radar, mobile, and transceivers for implants to mention a few applications.
“Our telecommunications equipment creates a domino effect. It inspires area high schools to visit us, and other academic institutions to emulate our success. Our advanced equipment also helps us compete out in the field so that our students get the best internships,” says Haro.
The experiences QCC students receive in Telecommunications pay off in big numbers. Many alumni have continued in the field; in fact about 90 percent move on to CUNY and SUNY schools.
Haro, an alum of the College, starting teaching at QCC as a lab technician in 2014 while pursuing his bachelor’s degree. He began teaching in the Engineering Technology department in 2016 and soon after started bringing in new equipment so that the program was aligned with private sector demands.”
Khan, who lives in Jamaica, Queens, adds, “The engineering skills I learn will help me find a good job but I want to lead, rather than follow. I plan to create a new kind of horticultural growth lights that consumers can manage and repair themselves.”
For now, Khan explains that he needs to work toward his Associate degree and continue his part-time job at Postmates ‘so I can pay my rent’.
Listening to Khan’s story, Haro remarks that he always learns something new about his students. “Their approach to solving problems, both in the classroom and in their lives makes our community richer. For all of these reasons, we are leading and will keep leading because we continue to make strong connections and cross bridges.”
###
