On the afternoon of October 25, 2024, Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology, the University of Danang (UD-VKU), in collaboration with the Information Technology Institute, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-ITI) awarded certificates of completion for the short-term training course in semiconductor IC design to 15 students (the first course).

Overview of the Certification Ceremony for the Short-Term Semiconductor Chip Design Training Course

The event was attended by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector, along with Dr. Tran The Son – Vice Rector and Dr. Huynh Ngoc Tho – Vice Rector from VKU. The representative of ITI was Prof.Dr. Tran Xuan Tu – Director. Invited guests from IEICE SeMI included Prof. Kazuya Monden, Chair of the Technical Subcommittee (Hitachi Group, Japan), along with Vice Chairs, Prof. Yasunori Owada from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan, and Prof. Shunsuke Saruwatari from Osaka University, Japan. The event also included leaders from various departments, faculties, and centers, along with 15 students participating in the training program and many interested lecturers and students from VKU.

Congratulatory speech by Dr. Huynh Ngoc Tho – VKU’s Vice Rector

In his congratulatory speech, Dr. Huynh Ngoc Tho – VKU’s Vice Rector was delighted to witness 15 students of the first course successfully completing the short-term semiconductor chip design course. He noted that this marks a significant step forward, not only for them but also for VKU. As a leading public university in the Central – Central Highlands and Nationwide, VKU is proud to be the pioneer in recruiting, training, and conducting intensive training courses on semiconductor design, a potential and strategic field in Vietnam in general and Da Nang in particular. Today’s event highlights VKU’s commitment to advancing high-quality human resources development, meeting the increasing demand for talent in the semiconductor industry both domestically and internationally.

VKU has actively launched various activities, becoming the first to complete procedures and announce the Semiconductor Chip Design Engineer enrollment in 2024, with a total expected training target of 600-1,000 engineers by 2028. Simultaneously, VKU has also adjusted training programs of related majors, including adding semiconductor orientation to train students of the courses 2021 – 2023 to meet urgent workforce needs in this field. Additionally, VKU has introduced a master’s training program, developed a research group on semiconductors, and created a plan to develop workforce capabilities in semiconductor packaging and testing. Upskilling courses have been established for students, and faculty members are receiving professional development and training. VKU has also completed the construction and put into operation the Semiconductor and Smart Technology Hub (VKU-SSTH) and the laboratory for experimentation and research on new technologies with Nam Long Group, strengthened collaborations with many domestic and foreign strategic partners, including VNU-ITI, the Institute of System Integration (Le Quy Don Technical University), FPT Software Central Region, Kyung Hee University (Korea), and Korea Fabless Industry Association (KFIA) and many other partners.

In coordination with VNU-ITI, Da Nang Semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence Center (DSAC), and the support of Synopsys Vietnam, which provided licensed software and a complete library of teaching materials of Synopsys, VKU organized a source lecturer training course for 25 lecturers selected from universities in Danang (including six VKU’s lecturers who completed the course and were awarded certificates at Danang Semiconductor Day on August 30). Additionally, Danang city awarded 17 scholarships for lecturers participating in the source lecturer training program on semiconductor testing and packaging organized by Arizona State University (USA) under the sponsorship of the International Technology Security and Innovation Fund (including six VKU lecturers currently participating).

Notably, in the 2024 entrance exam, the major Semiconductor IC design (Engineer) with 60 available slots, attracted great interest from candidates and parents, receiving over 1,500 applications. Ultimately, 71 candidates passed the entrance exam with a score of 27 points or higher, ranking among the top scores nationwide.

Remarks by Prof.Dr. Tran Xuan Tu, Director of ITI

On behalf of ITI, Prof.Dr. Tran Xuan Tu congratulated the first cohort of students who completed the semiconductor design training program. He noted that students from Da Nang showed great passion and curiosity for technology, a good foundation of thinking, and a keen ability to absorb new knowledge. In the coming time, he hopes some students will receive more in-depth training in semiconductor chip design. ITI will continue to accompany VKU by providing students with access to scholarships and opportunities to participate in international projects. With the foundational training gained from this course, students are now equipped to work at domestic and international enterprises in semiconductor IC design.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – VKU’s Rector (far left), and Prof.Dr. Tran Xuan Tu, ITI’s Director (far right), awarded certificates for completing the short-term semiconductor chip design training course to two lecturers from Faculty of Computer Engineering and Electronics

The short-term semiconductor design training course for students was enrolled in January 2024 and officially launched on March 23, 2024, with 15 students from related majors such as Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, and Automation, etc. The course was divided into two stages: Stage 1 (the first 3 months) focused on providing basic theory and practical skills in semiconductor chip design. In Stage 2 (the following 3 months), students participated in real-world projects, reinforcing their knowledge and skills through practical exercises and challenges. The curriculum included 4 main modules: (1) VLSI Design, (2) Basic Digital Design & Hardware Description Language (System Verilog/Verilog/VHDL), (3) Basic Digital Circuit Implementation, and (4) Basic Analog Circuit Design. Notably, the course was conducted using licensed software from Synopsys, one of the leading companies in semiconductor design solutions, ensuring a high level of professionalism and effectiveness in students’ learning and practice. This comprehensive program offers students access to advanced technology in the semiconductor design field.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – VKU’s Rector (far left), and Prof.Dr. Tran Xuan Tu, ITI’s Director (far right), awarded certificates for completing the short-term semiconductor chip design training course for students

Notably, after completing the course, a team of VKU students – including Ly Huu Loc, Le Trong Quyen, Dang Anh Cuong, Luu Quang Vu (Course 21, Computer Engineering) and Ho Minh Phi (Course 21, IoT Robotics) – guided by lecturers from the Faculty of Computer Engineering and Electronics and experts from VNU-ITI, actively researched and developed a proposal for an IC design project titled “High-Speed Implementation of Ascon for Image Encryption and Decryption.” This proposal was submitted to The Universalization of IC Design from CASS (UNIC-CASS 2024), organized by the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society (CASS), and it has been approved by the UNIC-CASS 2024 judging committee. It is expected that the results of the actual manufactured chip products will be announced in April 2025.

Le Trong Quyen (Computer Engineering, Course 21), representing all the training course students, gave a speech expressing.

On behalf of all the students, Le Trong Quyen expressed gratitude to the faculty of VKU and VNU-ITI for their support and for creating the best conditions to help everyone complete the course. The program content was designed to be well-suited to students’ abilities, from theory to practical work and real-world projects. The access to modern, licensed industrial software and powerful servers greatly supported their learning and practice at the school. Through this program, they gained an understanding of and hands-on experience with design processes, which enabled us to create actual products. The knowledge and practical experience shared by the instructors provides a strong foundation for them to continue growing in the semiconductor IC field, where there’s much more to research and explore.

The short-term training program in semiconductor IC design has marked an important step forward in developing high-quality human resources for Da Nang in particular and Vietnam in general. With support from domestic and international experts and licensed software from Synopsys, students were equipped with essential skills and knowledge for practical projects in IC design. The certificate ceremony not only celebrates the hard work of the students but also serves as a significant steppingstone that helps them confidently enter the semiconductor industry, meeting the growing demand for human resources domestically and internationally. As a pioneer in semiconductor IC training, VKU will continue to lead in offering specialized training courses and collaborating with partners to promote the development of this technology sector.

Center for Learning Resource and Communication 

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