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Many schools open semiconductor design majors

The 2024 enrollment season witnessed a reality, many universities tend to open more technical training majors, even schools with a tradition of economic training such as Hanoi Foreign Trade University and National Economics University also open technical training majors.

But the biggest highlight is that many schools focus on expanding, opening new ones, and training in microelectronics and semiconductor circuit design. This is not surprising, because the demand for human resources in this industry is currently very high as many large foreign enterprises are investing and researching investment in this field in Vietnam. According to the reporter's records, the University of Science and Technology, Danang University plans to open a new major, Telecommunications Engineering (majoring in Microelectronics - Circuit Design); the Vietnam - Korea University of Information and Communications Technology, Danang University recruits 4 new majors/specializations, including Semiconductor Circuit Design; Danang University of Technical Education; Hanoi University of Science and Technology (USTH) starts recruiting students for the major of semiconductor circuit technology.

In addition, traditional schools such as Hanoi National University, Ho Chi Minh City National University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, etc., which have strengths in training in electronics and telecommunications, are expected to expand training in microchip design. The fact that many schools focus on opening majors, consolidating and expanding training in microchip design is not a coincidence, but comes from the development needs of the country.

Sharing more about the reason for opening the new major, with reporters of the Journalist & Public Opinion Newspaper, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hong Hai - Vice President of the University of Technology (University of Danang) said that from 2024, the school will open an additional major "Microelectronics - Microcircuit Design" with an expected enrollment of about 100 students. According to Resolution No. 124 of the regular government meeting in July 2023, the Prime Minister concluded that the Ministry of Planning and Investment will preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology; Ministry of Information and Communications; Ministry of Education and Training to research and develop a Project on human resource development for the semiconductor industry by 2030, in which it is expected to train about 30 - 50 thousand human resources and experts for the semiconductor industry.

“The training of engineers who can meet the requirements of working in semiconductor design companies has been provided by the school for a long time. Many graduates from the fields of Telecommunications Electronics, Embedded Systems, Control and Automation Engineering, Mechatronic Engineering, and Information Technology are working at many companies related to chip design such as Synopsys, Renesas, Savarti, etc. in Da Nang” – Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai shared.

According to this person, in order to meet the increasing training needs in the coming time, the School will prioritize investment in facilities, lab systems and training to strengthen the team of highly qualified lecturers through short-term and intensive training courses.

Commenting on this trend, many experts also said that the fact that many universities are entering core training fields, wanting to train specialized human resources for a field with many opportunities such as the semiconductor chip industry is a very encouraging sign. Previously, schools often rushed to train economic majors. Because to open such a major, investment in facilities is not required much, while attracting candidates due to the tastes of parents and students. But now, technical training requires systematic investment in facilities, laboratories, and specialized programs that cost a lot of capital. Therefore, the fact that many schools participate in training is very positive.

Need overall strategy

In fact, the training industry related to semiconductor design is not new in Vietnam. Many Vietnamese universities also have a tradition of training in this field. According to Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc, there are currently about 35 schools with training programs or conversion from professional groups related to semiconductors and microchips, of which 11 schools have traditional training programs close to this semiconductor and microchip field.

Hanoi National University is a multidisciplinary, multi-field training unit, with the mission of fulfilling national obligations, currently implementing training in about 20 training majors related to the semiconductor field such as: Telecommunications Electronics, Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Electronic Materials, Radio Physics and Electronics, Mechatronics, Information Technology... With a team of leading experts, experience in implementing project topics and international cooperation experience, training in the stages of design, manufacturing, packaging, testing, and application development in the semiconductor value chain.

Many universities investing in expanding training in fields related to technology and engineering is a very encouraging sign.

“If Vietnam aims at chip design, the fields that need additional training investment are Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics. If it aims at chip manufacturing, it must have Physics, Automation, Electronics, etc. If it aims at chip packaging, it must have Electronics, Chemistry, Automation, etc. Thus, the market segment will require appropriate training fields. In short, there needs to be a national scenario and strategy in this field,” said Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc.

According to Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc, Vietnam needs to have policies to encourage businesses to invest and accompany training institutions in developing human resources; attract good domestic and foreign researchers in the field to participate in teaching at universities; mobilize resources and overseas Vietnamese intellectuals. At the same time, it is necessary to increase investment in facilities and laboratories to ensure training quality; increase investment in topics and projects to improve research capacity in related fields;

In particular, there is a need for policies and resources to form strong research groups, international research groups, and centers of excellence in areas related to microchips and semiconductors in universities, research institutes, and businesses. On the other hand, universities also need to agree on planning, reviewing, and developing training programs according to the directions mentioned above; sharing textbooks, learning materials, and design software among training units.

Thus, it can be seen that training linked to the needs and development requirements of the country is the right direction. However, to go far, Vietnamese universities need to cooperate and share with each other to build a comprehensive national strategy. Only when doing that, can universities train a generation of high-quality engineers, creating human resources as a fulcrum for the development of industries.

Trinh Phuc

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tuyen-sinh-dai-hoc-nam-2024-nhieu-diem-moi-them-co-hoi-post281388.html