The semiconductor industry consists of many stages with different investment levels and completion times. However, at any stage, human resources are always the decisive factor, the key to opening the industry with the potential to bring in large revenues. Clearly identifying this issue, the Da Nang government, training institutions and enterprises now make joint efforts in developing semiconductor human resources.

Representatives of the DSAC and Phenikaa University's Microchip Training Centre (PSTC) exchanged a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in May 2024. Photo: M.QUE

Trilateral cooperation

After completing a more than 2-month course on converting engineers from the related-industry to the field of microchip design in June, Le Thanh Tam, a student from the Faculty of Electronics - Telecommunications, majoring in Electronics, the University of Science and Technology, a member school of the University of Da Nang (UD) has mastered the skills to use design support tools of Xilinx and Altera; design hardware models Control Path, Data Path, Flow FSM; design digital circuits (RTL) for laboratories; sketching the operating code (Op-code).

Tam said that the course was taught by 6 experienced engineers from Acronics Solutions Company Limited, thereby equipping students with methods to design microcircuits on MPSoC - FPGA technology. The learning content focuses on in-depth analysis of the operating model of algorithms and solutions to design a microcircuit. In addition, the classroom is fully equipped, pre-installed with software on the computer, along with the dedicated attitude of the trainers, helping students gain more knowledge, meeting the needs of practical applications.

Meanwhile, Master Nguyen Vy Rin, the Head of Software Engineering, the Faculty of Information Technology (IT), the FPT University Da Nang, is one of the 25 students participating in the city’s first semiconductor microcircuit source teacher training course that began on March 26.

Accordingly, trainees are lecturers selected from universities including Viet Nam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), the University of Science and Technology, the University of Education and Technology, all of which belong to UD, along with the private Duy Tan and FPT universities.

Trainers are highly-qualified lecturers from the Institute of Information Technology – Ha Noi National University, engineers from Synopsys Viet Nam Co., Ltd., thereby creating conditions for the Da Nang trainees to access new technologies for future applications in future training.

Master Nguyen Vy Rin has been trained for six months, of which three months were for theory and the remaining ones for project work with four modules: high-density integrated circuit design (VLSI design); digital design and hardware description language (SystemVerilog/Verilog/VHDL); basic digital integrated circuit implementation; basic analog circuit design. During the training period, the trainees always received attention from the Da Nang People’s Committee.

The above-mentioned courses are the result of the trilateral cooperation: the municipal government - schools - businesses. Accordingly, the memorandum of understanding between the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications and the Institute of Information Technology, the Viet Nam National University in Ha Noi in June 2024; the Da Nang Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence Center for Research and Training (DSAC) and Synopsys International Limited on cooperation in training human resources for semiconductor microchip design, Intel Corporation on cooperation in implementing the Intel® programme for future human resources in Da Nang in January 2024 have been concretized.

To date, the city has implemented three courses to convert undergraduates from the near-field to microchip design with the participation of 39 students, while simultaneously training 43 lecturers. To make the coordination more effective, on May 4, 2024, an alliance of DSAC and 5 major universities in Da Nang signed a cooperation agreement with Phenikaa University in the capital city of Ha Noi and Synopsys Viet Nam Co., Ltd. to establish the VASA Viet Nam Alliance.

The VASA Alliance focuses on training to improve practical skills according to market demand in both important areas of the semiconductor industry: microchip design; packaging and testing. This aims to help learners improve their skills and qualifications, as well as maximize the ability to apply the knowledge into the reality. The goal of the alliance is to train 8,000 internationally certified chip design engineers and 12,000 high-level engineers and technicians to work in packaging and testing factories by 2030.

In addition to cooperating with domestic educational institutions, the city has been working with international universities with experience in providing high-quality human resources such as Arizona State University in the United States and the Minghsin University of Science and Technology in Taiwan (China).
In early August, the Arizona State University (ASU) cooperated with the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment and Da Nang to start a programme to train source lecturers on semiconductor testing and packaging and to issue certificates of qualified lecturers granted by ASU.

This programme is funded by the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund of the US Department of State and is being implemented in six countries. The programme is expected to feature three modules: 80-hour online learning on semiconductor packaging and testing; practical design of packaging and testing training; practical implementation at universities with regular support from ASU and ITSI partners as well as China.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Da Nang will select the best lecturers to attend a lecturer training course with a cooperation unit of Synopsys Corporation in Taiwan (China).

Training high-quality human resources

Da Nang currently has 37 human resource training facilities related to the IT industry and other industries related to the semiconductor microchip field such as telecommunications electronics, mechatronics, automation with a total enrollment target of about 5,700 students, of which university and college levels account for nearly 80%. Currently, 3 member schools of the UD, VKU, the University of Science and Technology, and University of Education and Technology, have announced new enrollment targets for microchip design engineers from August 2024 with 170 students/year.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap, Rector of the VKU, informed that since 2020, the VKU has proposed to include semiconductor microchip training and research in the official development assistance (ODA) project funded by the South Korean Government.

This is a key project in the 2022 - 2026 period, thanks to which, by November 2023, the VKU will be the first university in the Central Viet Nam and Central Highlands region to complete the procedures for opening a major and enrolling students to train microchip design engineers. In addition to the above-mentioned majors, the school has many majors close to semiconductors such as computer engineering, embedded systems and Internet of Things (IoT) and IT.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hieu, the Rector of the University of Science and Technology, said that the new major of microelectronics - microchip design is trained in 4.5 years and the enrollment of 60 new students for the 2024-2025 school year is. The curriculum focuses on IC design, providing knowledge for the entire design process, including digital and analog IC design as well as physical design, and has enough time to do projects.

In addition, the curriculum also teaches some related knowledge such as IoT, artificial intelligence. To date, the school has signed agreements with 16 domestic and foreign universities on training cooperation, exchange of curriculum, shared laboratories, the exchange of lecturers and students in short-term programmes, and joint organisation of seminars and conferences; along with 10 domestic and foreign enterprises to develop training programs, support facilities such as practice rooms and laboratories.

Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Gia Nhu, the Principal of the School of Computer Science, Duy Tan University (DTU), said that DTU now focuses on developing training programs specializing in Semiconductor Circuit Design and will start enrolling the first course in 2024. Currently, nearly 100 students follow this major. In parallel with implementing university-level training, the school is interested in short-term training, upgrading skills in microcircuit design for students and teaching staff in the fields of computers and IT, electricity - electronics.

This short-term training programme is being implemented through the cooperation between DTU and SunEdu International Education Joint Stock Company and the support of Cadence, Inc. in the United States. With regard to the training of lecturers, DTU will send its outstanding lecturers to study postgraduate programs in semiconductor design in such universities as Purdue in the United States and Chungbuk in South Korea

In addition to educational institutions, businesses themselves are also implementing solutions to increase high-quality human resources. Mr. Trinh Thanh Lam, the Sales Director of Synopsys South East, said that currently, Synopsys Viet Nam Co., Ltd. - Da Nang Branch has nearly a staff of 300 employees and aims to bring the figure to 400 in the next two years. The Da Nang branch regularly conducts technical student exchange programmes, supports lecturer and student training programmes for universities.At the same time, the company's employees are always trained in new skills to meet the increasing demands of the semiconductor industry.

Meanwhile, Foxlink Electronics Da Nang Co., Ltd. has set a target of up to 5,000 employees. The company’s representative said that Da Nang is the future development focus under Foxlink’s future strategies in Southeast Asia. Accordingly, the factory was built in the Da Nang Hi-tech Park has an initial investment capital of US$28 million with the requirement for human resources being highly-qualified engineers. Therefore, on February 20, 2024, Foxlink Da Nang signed an agreement with the private Dong A University for further cooperation in training human resources in the hi-tech field.

Reporting by MAI QUE - Translating by A.THU