Focusing on Semiconductor Engineers: Strategic Move for Vietnam’s Rapid Growth and Attracting Foreign Investment

The semiconductor industry is rapidly growing, and it requires skilled engineers to work in this field. To become an engineer in the semiconductor industry, one must undergo up to 6 years of basic and in-depth study. Therefore, there is a need for a suitable training program for aspiring engineers.

During a conference titled “Training program for the semiconductor chip industry until 2030 – Challenges and solutions,” Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son shared that focusing on training engineers for the semiconductor industry is a strategic move to leverage technology access and transfer opportunities, leading to rapid and sustainable economic growth. Foreign corporations are more likely to invest in Vietnam if they see that the country has skilled human resources. However, to attract students to study and develop strong training programs, there needs to be a viable market.

Deputy Minister Son emphasized that the development of training programs should be industry-driven to ensure proper focus. In addition to the program itself, training models need to be designed to meet market requirements promptly and in the long term. Currently, universities are enrolling students in 4-year bachelor’s programs with 1-2 years of intensive training, meaning that the first course may not be available until 2030.

It is estimated that Vietnam will require between 30,000 to 50,000 engineers by 2030 to cater to the microchip industry. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phong Dien from Hanoi University of Science and Technology sees this demand as both an opportunity and a challenge for universities. He recommended that training programs need to align with the actual needs of businesses in terms of quantity and quality, focusing on specific fields within the semiconductor IC industry.

Dr. Nguyen Duc Minh from the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Hanoi University of Science and Technology proposed a pilot manufacturing program that involves collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners. This program would encompass facilities construction, scholarship incentives, tax benefits, and joint investment in training and research programs for international cooperation.

Dr. Nguyen Minh Son suggested piloting a training program focused on System-on-Chip-oriented IC design at his university’s Department of Computer Engineering head office