Essential Elements for Semiconductor Training: Qualified Instructors and Infrastructure
The emergence of semiconductor technology training programs is becoming increasingly prevalent among Vietnamese educational institutions, aimed at addressing the market’s demand for skilled engineers in the field.
Deputy Minister of Education and Training, Hoang Minh Son, acknowledged that while such programs are not entirely new, with major universities having offered them for many years, the enrollment and graduation rates remain alarmingly low. This shortage of high-quality human resources, particularly in high-tech sectors, acts as a barrier to attracting significant investments from large corporations in research, development, and manufacturing within Vietnam.
Approximately 35 local higher education institutions have the capacity to partake in this trend, with over 10 currently providing semiconductor training programs.
Renowned universities with expertise in engineering and technology disciplines, such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam National University in Hanoi, and Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, have heavily invested in faculty and infrastructure, including advanced laboratories. Meanwhile, other institutions are striving to enter this promising field by upgrading infrastructure, leveraging existing human resources from related fields, recruiting new faculty, and investing in laboratories and practical training.
Minister Son emphasized the immediate need to bolster the capacity of higher education institutions, particularly in terms of faculty, infrastructure, technology, training programs, and software tools. Collaboration between universities and businesses is also seen as a crucial strategy for continuously enhancing the quality of human resources.
Recently, the University of Engineering and Technology under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and the Republic of Korea-based conglomerate Samsung Electronics signed a cooperation agreement to implement the VNU-Samsung Technology Track (V-STT) scholarship program. This initiative assists outstanding students in pursuing master’s degree training in semiconductor and microchip fields, with opportunities for employment at Samsung’s semiconductor chip division in the Republic of Korea upon graduation.
While the introduction of semiconductor and microchip training programs appears timely, experts caution against universities hastily jumping on the bandwagon. They stress the importance of carefully considering the quality of graduates and post-graduation job opportunities.
