Overseas training can carve chip successes

At the end of April, the Vietnam National University (VNU) announced that it will expand additional semiconductor chip training programmes at two members within the university’s ecosystem, namely the Hanoi University of Science and Vietnam Japan University.

This will bring the total number of students trained in this field to approximately 20,000 over the next five years.

Previously, the University of Engineering and Technology within this ecosystem has been training personnel in semiconductors for many years through majors on electronics and telecommunications, computer engineering, technical physics, and nanotechnology.

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Anh Tuan, training and student affairs head at the VNU, stated that students enrolled in these schemes will be trained to work in key positions in the semiconductor industry such as manufacturing, designing, packaging, and testing of integrated semiconductor components.

“Graduates will have the opportunity to work at leading companies in semiconductor chip manufacturing and components such as Micron, Intel, Foxconn, Samsung Electronics, LG Display, Canon, Nissan, or high-tech conglomerates like FPT, Viettel, and VNPT,” Tuan said.

“Furthermore, they will also have many opportunities to access scholarships to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees at top universities worldwide in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United States,” he added.

Accordingly, the VNU has tasked the Hanoi University of Science with opening a bachelor’s programme in semiconductor technology, enrolling the first class with 140 slots. The Vietnam Japan University also plans to admit the first batch of students to its semiconductor chip technology initiative this year, with 100 slots available.

Previously, the FPT International University signed an agreement with the Asia University in Taiwan to train people in the semiconductor industry. Students will study for two years at FPT with a programme focusing on IT and AI, then continue their studies in Taiwan for another two years, specialising in semiconductor tech.

According to Hoang Viet Ha, director of the FPT International University Training Institute, the training collaboration with Taiwan offers a significant advantage as the distance between academia and industry is virtually non-existent.

“Students have the opportunity to gain practical experience directly within businesses, and Taiwan is known as the capital of the semiconductor industry, holding a significant market share worldwide. This is a great advantage for enhancing the quality of education,” he stressed.

Vietnam currently has nearly 160 schools offering majors in engineering and technology, enrolling around 134,000 students annually. However, the semiconductor industry in Vietnam is estimated to require about 10,000 engineers per year, but the current workforce only meets less than 20 per cent of the demand, according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

Do Tien Thinh, deputy director at the National Innovation Centre (NIC), stated that human resources with a strong foundation in mathematics and natural sciences are vital. This is also the reason why the government strategically aims to develop personnel in chip design, the key stage of the semiconductor industry.

“Semiconductor tech involves design, packaging, and testing. Vietnam can participate in the packaging and testing stage, but Vietnam’s national strategy is to focus on design, a billion-dollar market where Vietnam has a great opportunity,” Thinh said.

Currently, the NIC, along with business partners, is providing technical support for chip design to approximately 40 universities in Vietnam. “We support local universities in training students, then sending them abroad for study and work for a period of time before returning to contribute to the development of the industry,” Thinh added.

Nguyen Vinh Quang, CEO of FPT Semiconductor, stated that semiconductor chip companies currently often have to retrain newly recruited personnel for six months to a year.

“The reason is that Vietnam has not produced any graduates specialising in semiconductors, and instead mostly focusing on electronics. Meanwhile, electronics training programmes have not kept up with the industry’s development pace,” Quang said.

FPT inaugurated a research and development centre in the central city of Danang in March with the goal of becoming the ‘silicon bay’ of the region. The company is also enhancing training through collaboration with over 20 global universities, Quang added.

According to the Ministry of Finance, there are 174 foreign-led projects related to semiconductors across the country, with a total registered capital of nearly $11.6 billion. Companies like Samsung, Intel, and Amkor are also ramping up investments in Vietnam, transforming Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Ninh, Danang, and Bac Giang into strongholds for chip production and assembly.