Ahead of the 2024 enrollment season, the increasing demand for human resources in the semiconductor manufacturing sector has led to the establishment of numerous training programs by educational institutions.
During a February visit to FPT Corporation, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung hailed the company’s focus on semiconductor chips as a strategic decision.
“FPT’s success could serve as a model for other domestic technology firms, as the semiconductor industry is poised to become a key sector for Vietnam in the next few decades,” commented Hung.
FPT Software made history as the first Vietnamese company to commercialize semiconductor chips, securing a substantial order to supply 70 million chips to South Korea and Japan.
Hung further emphasized, “Vietnamese individuals possess strong aptitudes in mathematics, engineering, technology, and science, all of which are fundamental elements in chip manufacturing. Leveraging our human resources advantage will lead to further benefits.”
As outlined in the national industry strategy, the development of human resources is paramount, aiming to train up to 50,000 integrated circuit design engineers and hundreds of thousands of engineers and technical workers in related fields by 2030.
However, Vietnam presently has fewer than 5,600 chip design engineers, with 85% situated in Ho Chi Minh City and the remainder in Hanoi and Danang, according to the National Agency for Science and Technology Information.
The scarcity of skilled labor in the industry has created opportunities for training institutions, particularly technology and engineering schools, to swiftly join the workforce preparation efforts.
This year, Ho Chi Minh City National University will introduce semiconductor circuit design programs at three affiliated units: VNU University of Science, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and University of Engineering and Technology.
Similarly, schools under the University of Danang will enroll nearly 200 students for semiconductor circuit design training in 2024.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), there are currently 35 higher education institutions in Vietnam offering semiconductor-related programs such as IT, electronics, and telecommunications.
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thu Thuy, director of the Higher Education Department under the MoET, noted that approximately 50 major foreign-led enterprises have invested in Vietnam’s chip industry.
It is projected that the demand for skilled professionals in the semiconductor chip industry will reach around 20,000 individuals in the next five years, potentially escalating to 50,000 individuals within a decade.
