At the workshop ‘Training human resources for semiconductor chip production and opening a major in training microelectronics engineers’ organised by the Da Nang University of Science and Technology on Friday, businesses operating in this field confirmed that the industry's attractiveness is quite high in the context of the current information technology (IT) boom. However, to meet businesses’ recruitment requirements, students need to equip themselves with good knowledge and practice skills, especially foreign language proficiency.

Students of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology askquestions directly to businesses on the sidelines of the workshop. Photo: NGOC HA

In Da Nang, a number of typical semiconductor companies are present such as Synopsys Vietnam Company, Renesas, Savarti, Synapse and VHT (Viettel), and their engineering teams make their mark with outstanding good- quality products.

According to Mr. Dinh Quang Truong, the Deputy Technical Director of the Synapse Design Vietnam Company, currently, human resources in the semiconductor field in Da Nang are mainly graduates from the Da Nang University of Science and Technology. The number of engineers graduating every year meets the current needs raised by semiconductor chip companies across the city, in addition to providing an additional part of human resources for companies in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Currently, the semiconductor industry has a high level of competition among domestic firms in Ha Noi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City and between domestic enterprises and their foreign rivals is very large. Therefore, to keep their highly-qualified engineers on their feet is a key task in which businesses are very interested. As for Synapse Design Vietnam Company, a number of solutions have been proposed such as improving income, having a clear career development orientation for engineers, onsite work programmes abroad, activities that care about employees' lives", Mr. Dinh Quang Truong said.

Mr. Nguyen Bao Anh, alumnus of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology, the Technical Director in charge of developing high-tech projects, Head of Synopsys Viet Nam Office in Da Nang, also said that it is expected that the number of employees in the company's semiconductor segment will double in the coming years.

With regard to high-quality human resources for the semiconductor market, according to Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Huu Hieu, the Principal of the Da Nang Universitygo of Science and Technology, in the field of Microelectronics (semiconductor technology, circuit design), the school has operated nearly 30 subjects range from technology to design, implemented in training programmes in the departments of Electronics and Telecommunications, IT, Science, Technology and Advanced, Electrical and Mechanical. In addition to theoretical classes, students have hands-on access to software commonly used in training semiconductor circuit engineers.

Basically, students can clearly understand the operating principles and design principles used in semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs), which can largely meet the recruitment needs of IC design companies on the market.

In recent years, the burgeoning development of technology, including Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other new applications, especially in such fields as healthcare, self-driving cars and renewable energy, has also created high demand for human resources in the microelectronics industry (semiconductor technology, circuit design).

So as to further promote training and research in this field, it is expected that, from 2024 onwards, the university will open a Microelectronics major to provide specialised human resources.

Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications during practical classes. Photo: NGOC HA

According to businesses' assessments, students have good basic knowledge during their studies at school but they are not qualified enough to be able to work immediately, and often have to go through a training period at enterprises.

Therefore, to immediately meet the job requirements, students majoring in Microelectronics need to possess sufficient knowledge, practice skills, especially foreign language proficiency and master programming languages such as TCL, PERL and Python. Businesses hope that the establishment of the Microelectronics major at this university will help provide a source of quality engineers for the semiconductor industry.

“18 years of profession, until now I have still used the knowledge of some subjects I learned at university. At that time, I tried my best to study the subjects as best as possible. After graduating and going to work, I found it useful, especially when we hold important positions in the company and make design decisions. Therefore, you need to focus on learning the background knowledge well, while enhancing your English levels and soft skills and gaining experience in the at-business semester. Synopsys Viet Nam has organised many training programmes with a focus on providing knowledge and experience for students after graduation, but mainly in Ho Chi Minh City and hopes to soon open this programme in Da Nang in the coming time", Mr. Anh said.

Reporting by NGOC HA - Translating by A.THU