Computer engineering freshman Yousef Khater was awarded the Outstanding Pearson Learner Award for achieving the highest grade in Africa for International Advanced Levels in physics and chemistry.

Khater grew up in the United Kingdom and moved to Egypt at the age of 14 with his parents to absorb Egyptian culture and be with family. He attended secondary school at El Alsson in New Giza and greatly loved living in Egypt. Deciding between returning to the United Kingdom to study at the University College London or studying at The American University in Cairo, he chose AUC. 

“I feel like the American system is quite rewarding in the fact that it gives you the versatility to try other subjects outside of your field,” Khater said. “AUC is well known for building strong networks and getting really good connections, and that was one of the factors that really pushed me to go here. I was especially drawn to AUC because of its strong academic reputation, particularly in engineering, as well as the opportunity it offers to grow beyond my field of study and develop into a well-rounded and versatile individual.”

Khater decided to study computer engineering because of the versatility of the field, as well as his passion for the discipline. “I love maths, I love problems in general. It’s really fun — especially maths. It feels like a puzzle,” he said, adding, “I chose to pursue computer engineering due to my strong interest in coding, particularly the problem-solving aspect, as well as my belief that the analytical and technical skills developed through engineering are highly transferable across a wide range of fields.”

In his classes, he’s enjoyed proving mathematical theorems in logic-based Discrete Maths and tackling the challenges of the University’s freshman Rhetoric 101 course.

“I hated it like most people do, but at the end of the course, I loved it. I had never written anything like a research paper or a Caravan article before, so it was a really cool experience,” Khater said. “I can do research; I can read studies, and that feels like such a complex area.”

For a student as passionate and multidisciplinary as Khater, it’s no surprise that he performed well under pressure. Pearson Edexcel International AS/A Levels (IAL) are internationally recognized qualifications demonstrating a student’s aptitude in 21 subjects. Khater took four A Levels, achieving the highest marks in both physics and chemistry. His aptitude for engineering runs in his family, as his dad, uncle and grandparents on both sides are engineers as well.

“Here in Egypt, you do what your family does,” he stated. “In that way, engineering is like my family heritage. It’s part of why I love AUC. It allows me to be close to my family and gives me a strong network of other engineers. My experience at AUC has been very positive so far. The community is welcoming and supportive, which made the transition to university life smooth. I look forward to continuing my studies and making the most of the opportunities available over the coming years.”