Introduction
History
Concurrent with the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Kurdistan in 1995, the Department of Electrical Engineering commenced its activities by admitting 30 students in the Associate degree program in Electronics. The department began its undergraduate program in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Electronics in 2002, followed by the Power engineering focus in 2008. At the Master's level, specializations in Power, Control, Electronics, and Communications were added in 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. The PhD program in Power engineering was added in 2012. In 2020, the Department of Electrical Engineering was divided into two separate departments: the Department of Power and Control Engineering, and the Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering.
Power Focus:
Humanity's need for energy is increasing daily with the growth of the global population and changing perspectives and approaches in lifestyles, to the extent that even higher energy consumption can be considered an indicator of higher social welfare in societies. Among these, electrical energy as the cleanest and highest-quality energy carrier has received special attention. In fact, moving towards the electrification of infrastructure in various industries can be seen as a turning point in enhancing efficiency and advancing the economy of any country. On the other hand, end-users of electricity also prefer to use equipment based on electrical innovations with modern technology as much as possible, which brings them higher comfort. Examples of these innovations include electric vehicle technology and various smart home and industrial systems. Furthermore, meeting this growing need depends on the optimal conversion of primary energy resources, whose excessive use is not compatible with scientific and environmental approaches. Therefore, the limitation of primary resources on one hand and the need for electrification in all dimensions on the other hand make the necessity of creating a managed electrical energy system more evident than ever. Electrical energy systems in each country are in fact the largest man-made state systems, which, while facing complex technical issues, are also closely linked to that society's economy. Indeed, in these systems, we face thousands of energy generation units of various types and millions of small and large consumers with different and uncertain behaviors, who may be kilometers away from major energy production centers. Therefore, the management, control, and optimal design of such a system require the training of efficient personnel. The Power focus of Electrical Engineering has been developed and directed for this purpose. In general, mathematical modeling, circuit behavior analysis, systemic planning, and integrated and coordinated design and protection of elements and equipment of an electrical energy system from the beginning of energy generation to low-loss transmission and distribution and to the end of its optimal consumption are among the duties of a power engineer. In recent years, the emergence of the concept of smart grids has doubled the importance of managing and controlling electrical energy systems, as if a new spirit has been breathed into the body of these systems, and by creating various research and applied fields and even job opportunities for power engineers, attention to this focus has become even more prominent. Specifically, the fundamental areas and technical horizons in the field of electrical energy engineering (Power) include the following, but are not limited to them, and generally encompass everything related to the generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption of electrical energy.
Planning, operation, and energy management
Dynamics and stability of electrical energy systems
Study of the economic behavior of power system actors in electrical energy markets
Optimal and adaptive protection of electrical energy transmission and distribution systems
Monitoring and automation of electrical infrastructure on the smart grid platform
Dynamizing end-users to participate in optimal energy consumption
Modeling, design, and optimal control of fundamental system elements, including generators, motors, transformers, power switches, etc.
Creating a secure, stable, and reliable platform for increasing the penetration of renewable energy generation sources and smart equipment
Quality of power delivered to consumers with the presence of modern loads and sources with power electronics interfaces
Undergraduate students in the Electrical Energy Systems focus, according to the program approved by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, after completing basic and core courses, will take 24 specialized units related to fundamental areas to become acquainted with the foundations of this focus. Examples of these courses include:
Electrical Machines (Introduction to the operation of synchronous generators, three-phase transformers, and induction motors)
Analysis of Electrical Energy Systems (Modeling all elements of electrical energy transmission and distribution systems, especially transmission lines, studying power flow methods for supplying power, studying system behavior when facing abnormal conditions such as short circuits, frequency changes, system operation within the secure range, studying static and dynamic stability of the system)
Relays and Protection (Introduction to the concept of protection systems including the structure of electromechanical relays, relay placement in the system and their optimal coordination, studying and analyzing relay behavior when facing abnormal system conditions)
Electrical Installations (Introduction to lighting systems and internal power supply of buildings, calculation and optimal design, etc.)
Electrical Energy Generation (Introduction to components and elements of various types of power plants, including steam, gas, combined cycle, nuclear, and renewable energy plants, etc.)
High-Voltage Substation Design (Introduction to principles and calculations related to the design of various types of high-voltage substations, various structures, insulation and protection equipment, etc.)
Industrial Electronics (Introduction to various types of power electronic control switches including diodes, thyristors, IGBTs, studying the behavior of various electrical converters including AC-DC inverters and vice versa, DC-DC converters, studying harmonic management methods in converters, etc.)
In our country, which is a land rich in energy resources, the best way to consume or exchange energy is to convert it into electrical energy. This specialty plays a special role in the development and progress of our beloved country, Iran, and considering the rapid growth of this industry in the country (with a growth rate of over 10% per year), numerous employment opportunities have been created for graduates of this focus in the public, cooperative, and private sectors.
Control Focus:
Control Engineering is a field with broad applications in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, and even economics and biology. The most important goals of the Control focus are to familiarize with the methods of analysis and modeling of dynamic systems and to introduce methods for designing and using automatic control systems to achieve the desired behavior of such systems. Therefore, the application of various control systems in factories, industrial centers, service units, power plants, aerospace systems, biomedical engineering, and even economics and industrial management is part of the diverse applications of control in various industries. The undergraduate courses in the Control focus, in addition to familiarizing students with the principles of control, are planned in such a way as to suitably prepare students for continuing their studies at higher levels. The mandatory specialized program of this focus consists of 24 course units. Of course, students who are interested in learning more about this focus can, in addition to these courses, optionally enroll in Master's level courses of the Control focus.
Currently, the Department of Power and Control Engineering has:
10 faculty members
88 undergraduate students (in the Electrical Engineering – Power focus)
80 undergraduate students (in the Electrical Engineering – Control focus)
168 undergraduate students without a specific focus
241 Master's students (in the focuses of Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, Electrical Engineering- Control, Electrical Engineering- Power Electronics, and Electrical Machines)
41 Doctoral students
Department Mission:
Training specialized, creative, and thoughtful personnel in various focuses of Electrical Engineering to supply the country's needed human resources.
Advancing and expanding Electrical Engineering with emphasis on regional and national needs.
Entering new domains of knowledge in the field of Electrical Engineering.
Increasing the amount of high-content scientific production.
Maintaining and enhancing the scientific level of professors and students through quantitative and qualitative development of scientific production and increasing scientific and research cooperation at national and international levels.
Department's Special Programs for Enhancing Students' Scientific Level:
1. Sending over 10 students from various academic levels to countries such as Austria and Spain, etc., as part of student exchange programs.
2. Holding training classes for various software.
3. Holding classes in preparation for student olympiads.
4. Organizing various scientific visits in coordination with the Industry Liaison Center.
5. Holding workshops related to entrepreneurship and job opportunities by industry professionals.
Job Market:
An electrical engineer, according to their academic focus, can work in institutions such as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, power plants, various factories (cement, automotive, steel, etc.), telecommunications organizations, military and defense industries, etc. Of course, according to experts, there are many opportunities for entrepreneurship in the electrical engineering profession and starting an independent business, where a capable and skilled electrical engineer can identify and understand the country's needs in the field of electrical and telecommunications industry and take action to address them.
Some of the general skills and capabilities necessary for an electrical engineer include:
Good talent in mathematics, physics, and computer – because the main foundation of the electrical engineering profession is based on these sciences.
Ability to analyze problems and evaluate solutions – an electrical engineer in various projects is constantly exposed to various events and problems that they must be able to identify, analyze, and resolve well.
Good decision-making skills – an electrical engineer is usually responsible for a unit or project in their work, for whose various parts they must make the best decision at the appropriate time for work to proceed well.
Excellent communication skills – for proper communication and cooperation with managers and technicians of the company and projects.
Ability to plan and prioritize work effectively – due to the sensitivity and importance of the electrical engineering profession, planning must be done correctly for tasks and duties according to their sensitivity and priority.
Teamwork skills – for working with all individuals involved in a project and advancing it.
Full awareness of safety and health regulations in this field – the field of electricity and electronics faces many dangers for individuals. Therefore, an electrical engineer must be familiar with all protective and safety regulations and instructions and apply them to preserve their own health and that of others.
