City University Qatar (CUQ), in partnership with Ulster University, continued its CUQ Career Lab Series with a future-focused workshop titled Electronic Engineering: Why Semiconductors Are the Future Fuel?. Held on 28th April 2025 at the Lusail Campus, the session was led by Senior Lecturer Habiba Akram, who introduced students to the exciting world of electronics and its growing relevance in today’s digital economy.

Engineering the Digital Age

The session began with an overview of electronic engineering, a discipline that focuses on the design and application of circuits, systems, and semiconductor devices. Students learnt how this field plays a critical role in telecommunications, robotics, computing, and smart technologies, influencing everything from industrial automation to everyday life.

Attendees discovered how electronic engineers are the driving force behind innovations that power artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and data science, forming the backbone of global technological progress.

Semiconductors: Fuel for the Future

At the core of the discussion were semiconductors—the tiny chips that power nearly all digital devices. Participants explored why semiconductors are now considered as vital to the 21st century as oil was to the industrial age.

Key highlights included:

• The global semiconductor industry is expected to exceed $1.3 trillion by 2032, driven by demand for AI, IoT, and smart devices.
• Semiconductors are essential to powering AI chips (e.g. NVIDIA, Apple M-series), electric vehicles, smart homes, and 5G networks.
• These chips enable computing, communication, and storage in all digital systems, positioning electronic engineers as architects of the digital revolution.

Qatar’s Investment in Innovation

The workshop also emphasised Qatar’s growing role in the tech and semiconductor sectors, with significant investment in smart city initiatives (such as Lusail), renewable energy, and IoT infrastructure.

Students explored how engineering graduates can contribute to:

• Developing smart devices and control systems
• Leading innovation in smart cities, clean tech, and automation
• Launching start-ups or joining global leaders like Intel, Samsung, and Tesla

Participants were reminded that electronics engineers don’t just support innovation—they drive it. The skills they develop allow them to lead in everything from chip design to business development.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The workshop concluded with a powerful message:
“The future belongs to the thinkers, the builders, and the innovators.”

Students were encouraged to choose boldly, think creatively, and lead with purpose. Whether pursuing research, entrepreneurship, or tech development, today’s learners have the potential to power the world—because in tomorrow’s world, intelligence is driven by chips, and chips are powered by people like you.

Interested in building the future through engineering?
Learn more about CUQ’s computing and electronic engineering programmes or explore upcoming workshops here:
👉 https://cuq-ulster.edu.qa/careerlab