"Already, during my bachelor I get to know my future work field very well"

Problem solver Omani contributes to a sustainable world while studying at HZ

Coming from Sint Maarten, the path that Omani follows may not be the most commonly chosen amongst his peers. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing his dreams and studying Industrial Engineering & Management. As the problem solver that he is, Omani thinks HZ is the right place to learn about (re)designing, improving and optimising production resources and processes. Working together with companies, as is very common at HZ, makes him very happy: "I think it's important that I can really make a difference for them during my studies.” In addition to that, it gives him the opportunity to really experience how his future field of work deals with problems and challenges.

The right place for this future consultant

Industrial Engineering & Management is all about solving problems as a technical professional. It’s the main reason Omani chose this English-taught programme. HZ is just the right place for it because it offers real life cases that give you the opportunity to work together with companies, which he actually did right from the start of his studies. One of Omani’s biggest accomplishments so far is the project he has done for a big shipyard company. He and his fellow students helped the company out to get the much needed ISO (International Standardisation Operation) certifications. Having these certifications makes a huge difference in the trustability towards clients, suppliers, business partners and governments. Omani: “I’m planning to become a consultant after graduating. It feels like a dream come true to me. HZ has really helped me to professionalise by showing me different perspectives. I learned to plan ahead, to think things through and to see the different stages of a project; from the rough draft to the end product.''

Motivating fellow students

During his studies and in his spare time, Omani is very much involved with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 goals are set up as a call to action, a way to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. HZ firmly believes in the importance of these goals. As an SDG ambassador, Omani is quite concerned about underwater life: preventing and reducing pollution of the oceans is a big necessity. Omani and the other SDG ambassadors try to explain this in an understandable way to fellow HZ students. He wants to make students aware of small everyday changes that can be made to break some of our bad habits. Omani: "It’s important to tackle everyday habits that lead to polluted areas such as beaches. In other words: properly cleaning up after yourself is as simple as it sounds. We try to raise this kind of awareness by organising all kinds of events, guest lessons and other activities with HZ. It's super educational and fun at the same time. I’m grateful for HZ facilitating this."

Back to his roots

For Omani, the pursuit of a sustainable future does not stop after graduating. He wants to bring all the knowledge he has gained over the years at HZ back to Sint Maarten. Omani: "Not that they are not aware of the SDGs on Sint Maarten, but the goals don't get the attention they need right now. For example, mangrove trees are still removed when they obstruct the view. But the mangroves protect the island when a tropical storm or hurricane sweeps across.” According to Omani there is still room for improvement when it comes to doing something good for the island, its nature and inhabitants. But whether he will immediately return to his beloved island after completing his studies remains to be seen. After all, with a degree in Industrial Engineering & Management there’s so much you could do in the world.

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