Semiconductors are indispensable, powering everything from smartphones to cars. Yet, despite explosive growth in recent years, the industry is facing a critical bottleneck: a severe shortage of qualified engineers. This is a global problem that needs to be addressed by both the government and industry players. To complement the government’s initiative in STEM education, we too have taken proactive measures to bridge the gap between academia and industry.
In October 2024, we engaged with the first and second-year diploma students of Penang Skill Development Centre (“PSDC”). The talk covered the basics of the semiconductor process life cycle, including IC design, silicon wafer foundry, back-end semiconductor and final testing. The students were then introduced to the exciting world of wide bandgap (“WBG”) materials. This breakthrough technology — Gallium Nitride (“GaN”) and Silicon Carbide (“SiC”) — is the future of electronics. By visualising the future of the semiconductor industry, students could incorporate this real-world knowledge into their studies and became aware of the skills needed to succeed in the industry. By aligning their studies with industry trends, students would develop specialised skills and gain a competitive advantage in the job market upon graduation.
This initiative was just one part of our ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of semiconductor talent. Early exposure to cutting-edge technologies like WBG materials provided budding engineers the knowledge and skills they needed to succeed in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field. By investing in education and talent development, we not only strengthened the semiconductor industry, but also contributed to the broader technological advancement of our society.
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