On the morning of October 21, 2023, at Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), the University of Danang, there has been the event of Admission – Training Announcement and the workshop of semiconductor IC technology which is based on the cooperation with domestic and foreign partners to contribute to the training of high-quality human resources in the field of semiconductor IC technology in Da Nang particularly and in Vietnam generally.

The overview of the Admission – Training Announcement and the workshop of semiconductor IC technology

Participating the event as guests, there have been Mr. Do Trong Tan – Chief of Office of the Institute of Technology Application, Ministry of Science and Technology; Mr. Le Son Phong – Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Communications; Mr. Duong Hoang Van Ban – Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology; Dr. Doan Quang Hoan – Vice President of Vietnam Radio Electronics Association (REV); Dr. Roh Yeachul – Deputy Director of Electronics and Communications Research Institute (ETRI), Korea and colleagues; Representatives from The University of Danang and from member universities; VKU’s cooperation partners: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Phuc – Director of Institute of System Integration, Le Quy Don University of Technology; Dr. Bui Duy Hieu – Head of Semiconductor Circuit Research Department – Institute of Information Technology – Hanoi National University; Mr. Nguyen Tuan Phuong – Chairman of FPT Software Company in the Central region; Mr. Bui Huu Phu – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nam Long Technology Investment Group; Mr. Nguyen Bao Anh – Technical Director of Synopsys Company.

  On the VKU side, there have been Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh – Chairman of the Council; Dr. Tran The Son – Vice Rector; together with leaders of departments, faculties, affiliated centers, lecturers and students.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – VKU’s Rector delivered the opening speech at the event

Giving the speech at the opening of the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector happily said: “VKU with the mission of a leading and key public university providing high-tech human resources for the whole country and Da Nang city, is the first university in the Central Highlands having completing the opening and admission procedures for training IC Design Engineering.

Thereby, VKU continues to clearly affirm its awareness of responsibility and mission for human resource training and semiconductor IC technology research for the country and for the world as follows:

This is the first time VKU has organized an event to announce admission and training for a program. This shows the special importance of a training field, not a normal industry but the one creating breakthrough opportunities, affirming the position of a country. If we can develop semiconductor technology, we will raise the country’s position.

This event affirms VKU’s position, mission and responsibility with a positive spirit, drastic actions, and pioneering participation in solving urgent and important issues of the country and Da Nang city and in the development strategy of information and communications technology in general and semiconductor IC technology in particular.

  In addition, this event also contributes to the communication of this extremely important industry to society and candidates, raising awareness that candidates choosing this major is not only for pursuing a future career but also for the responsibility, the willingness to devote and contribute to the country in the journey to elevate the country’s position.

  Semiconductor IC is a very challenging and expensive training program, requiring careful preparation of resources and a lot of time. Therefore, VKU has developed a training program and has prepared start-up facilities early. In 2020, the content of training and research on semiconductor IC was included in the Korean ODA project proposal.

In 2021, VKU continues to open new fields such as: IoT, embedded systems, modules on electronic circuit design, microprocessors, etc. In 2022, the IC design Lab of 10 billion VND from Non-refundable ODA capital from the Korean Government has started. After nearly a year of preparation with active support from professors, experts and the prestigious Kyung Hee University, Korea, along with domestic and international universities and business partners to open the IC Design Engineering.

  It is expected that the training program will include 160 credits with a training period of 4.5 years, including basic knowledge of the major (electronic components, electronic circuit techniques, electronic circuit design, computer structure, digital, technical mathematics, …) and specialized knowledge – semiconductor IC design (SoC design, IC manufacturing technology, semiconductor memory design, Analog/Digital IC Design, FPGA/VLSI Design, IC Design Process, DSP, Circuits, Electromagnetic Fields, Signals and Systems, …). At the same time, VKU will adjust the training program and transfer students who are taking majors such as Computer Engineering Technology, Embedded Systems and IoT, and Information Technology to semiconductor IC design. It is estimated that the students from the first course will have graduated by 2025.

Accordingly, VKU plans to enroll about 500 new students for the period of 2024 – 2027, to transfer 180 students from nearby majors to Semiconductor IC Design. It is expected that from 2028, there will be students graduating from Semiconductor IC Design. In addition to training IC Design Engineers, VKU will also deploy accelerator classes, work with businesses for expected admission and training of 60-100 targeted students annually. In 2024, the master’s training program related to semiconductor IC design will be opened.

  In addition, VKU also developed a policy to support 50-100% of tuition fees, free accommodation for the first 2 semesters and consideration for subsequent years. Besides, VKU also proactively cooperates and calls for funding from businesses, proposes support policies from the city and other related support policies.

VKU has signed a cooperation agreement with 4 partners: Nam Long Technology Investment Group; FPT Software Company in the Central region; Institute of Information Technology – Hanoi National University; Le Quy Don University of Technology

At the event, VKU signed a cooperation agreement with 4 partners: Nam Long Technology Investment Group will invest in a lab for experiments and researches of new technologies with an estimated total investment of 25 billion VND for all categories into IC Design, IoT, GIS, Cloud, Robotics and 5G; FPT Software Company in the Central region cooperates in recruitment and internships for students majoring Semiconductor IC Design at VKU; The Institute of Information Technology – Hanoi National University will cooperate in training and researching the engineering and postgraduate training programs on semiconductor IC; The Institute of System Integration, Le Quy Don University of Technology will cooperate to conduct training in semiconductor IC design. In addition, VKU has also signed an MoU with the Ho Chi Minh City Semiconductor IC Technology Association and is negotiating with Synopsys Company to reach an MoU in the near future.

Semiconductor IC Technology Workshop with the topic “New trends in semiconductor IC technology at VKU”

After the event of Admission – Training Announcement for IC design major, VKU has organized a Semiconductor IC Technology Workshop with the theme “New trends in semiconductor IC technology” with presentations by experts from Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Korea and The Institute of System Integration, Le Quy Don University of Technology, Vietnam. Experts have suggested new trends in semiconductor design methods; determine the methods and tools used to divide the modules and decide how to design each module (in design specifications, partitioning,…). Exchanging from different perspectives, experts also proposed a training program framework for Accelerator courses, starting from the basic weeks of device theory, logical controlling; how to design software, device driver design; master the assembly source code, analyze semiconductor processes, analog circuits, design-based technology processes/analog circuits, or control the design of SW application projects,… Project-based learning (short term), is also noted by experts as indispensable in the module.

The event of Admission – Training Announcement and the workshop of semiconductor IC technology has an important meaning, marking a milestone on the path of developing and training high-quality human resources in semiconductor IC for domestic and international markets, taking Vietnam to the development of the powerful countries in the world.

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