Vietnam is gradually expanding semiconductor human resource training with the goal of at least 50,000 engineers by 2030. Progress is assessed positively, but to turn targets into human resources to meet industrial needs, universities need to strengthen practice, business cooperation and improve the quality of lecturers.

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The scale of training is gradually expanding

The goal of training at least 50,000 human resources with university degrees or higher to serve the semiconductor industry by 2030 is recording positive signs. According to Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai, Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), the Ministry of Finance reports that progress in implementing the current goal is relatively positive.

Specifically, Vietnam currently has about 7,000 design engineers working in businesses. Formal training, industry conversion, qualification improvement and post-graduate programs are being implemented at Hanoi National University, Ho Chi Minh City National University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology and about 30 other public and private training establishments.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Semiconductor Chip Trial Production Support Center under the Department of Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence, Ministry of Science and Technology, said that many universities have started recruiting students majoring in semiconductor ICs from 2024. With a training period of about 4-5 years, in the period 2028-2030, it is expected that about 2,000-3,000 specialized engineers will graduate each year, supplementing the workforce. available human resources.

Besides long-term training, retraining programs for graduates of nearby majors are also implemented in some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Dong Nai. This is a direction to help expand the human resource supply in a shorter time, taking advantage of the knowledge base in electronics, information technology, automation and engineering.

However, increasing the scale of training is a necessary condition. Semiconductor is a field that requires high expertise, technology changes rapidly and requires workers to be able to use specialized tools and equipment. Therefore, the gap between knowledge in the classroom and practical working capacity is becoming a problem that needs to be resolved.

Mr. Trieu Hiep Loc, Vice President of HASEM Semiconductor - AI & IoT Economics Association, pointed out that human resource needs between stages in the value chain are not the same. Therefore, the training program needs to clearly identify each occupational group and corresponding professional competencies.

In fact, circuit design, packaging, testing, and operating manufacturing equipment require different skills. If the training program is not closely aligned with the job position, learners may take more time to adapt after graduation, while businesses still have to organize retraining.

Some schools have proactively increased cooperation with businesses to overcome this limitation. For example, FPT University is cooperating with HCL GUVI on practical training in semiconductor circuit design. The program includes 560 hours of practice in 14 weeks, focusing on industry-oriented projects, helping students access the IC design and testing process right during their studies.

This model shows a shift from theoretical training to a project-based learning organization, guided by experts and linked to recruitment requirements. However, to expand on a large scale, schools still need significant investment resources for laboratories, specialized software and lecturers with practical experience.

Need to invest synchronously, not just increase targets

According to experts, one of the current limitations is that Vietnam still lacks a sufficiently developed industrial environment for students to regularly practice on specialized systems and equipment. Dr. Huynh Phu Minh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Innovation Center of Ho Chi Minh City National University, said that training high-level human resources needs to combine professional knowledge with practical experience. Meanwhile, the source of lecturers with deep experience in the semiconductor industry is still limited.

To supplement resources, training institutions are increasingly inviting international experts, cooperating with engineers with many years of experience at businesses, and building programs to send lecturers and students abroad to study. According to Dr. Nguyen Quang Nam, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Polytechnic University, Ho Chi Minh City National University, businesses need to expand to accept interns from 6 months to a year, and at the same time send engineers to directly guide practical topics and projects. This method helps students gain experience before graduating and shortens the time to adapt to the job.

Shared research infrastructure was also identified as an important direction of support. The National Center for Support of Semiconductor Chip Trial Production is oriented to create conditions for businesses, research institutes and universities to access infrastructure for product development.

Besides, international cooperation continues to be promoted. According to Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai, NIC coordinates the deployment of about 1,000 semiconductor training scholarships in Taiwan each year, contributing to adding human resources with international expertise and experience.

However, the challenge lies not only in the number of trained engineers, but also in the ability to meet the actual requirements of businesses and the ability to participate more deeply in Vietnam's global semiconductor value chain. To achieve this goal, close coordination between training institutions, businesses and management agencies is needed.