Professor Usagawa Tsuyoshi, special advisor to the President of the Vietnam Japan University, recently shared insights on Vietnam's ambitious goal to train 50,000 semiconductor engineers.
One of the main objectives of the National Program for Semiconductor Workforce Development by 2030, with a vision to 2050, is to train at least 50,000 professionals with a university degree or higher.
According to Professor Usagawa, “this figure is not unrealistic.”
Referring to a Japanese government survey and an assessment of Vietnam’s rapidly growing economy and ongoing industrial investments, he emphasized that domestic demand for semiconductor talent is very high.
To meet this demand, he said, educational institutions across the country must join in.
Great potential, but challenges ahead
Professor Usagawa Tsuyoshi, special advisor to the President of Vietnam Japan University, speaks at the semiconductor press conference on October 14. Photo: Du Lam
Speaking at a press conference on October 14, Professor Usagawa praised Vietnam’s potential to develop semiconductor talent as “very high.”
“I think Vietnam has done well in the design, packaging, and testing stages of the semiconductor industry,” he said.
“This means Vietnamese universities are capable of supplying talent that meets current technological standards.”
However, he warned that technology in this sector is evolving extremely fast, requiring all institutions to upgrade their training programs to keep pace.
He also emphasized the need to prepare for future demands by improving related areas such as artificial intelligence and data science.
Drawing from his experience at Kumamoto University in Japan, Professor Usagawa highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of semiconductor education, which demands collaboration between academic programs, institutions, and businesses.
Japan's model for public-private-university collaboration
Speaking about the synergy between government, academia, and industry, Professor Usagawa noted that in 2004, Japanese government reforms allowed Kumamoto University to operate as an independent legal entity with greater autonomy.
This autonomy facilitated smoother cooperation with private companies and enabled the university to generate revenue from intellectual property, which could be reinvested in education and student development.
He added that Vietnam is also undergoing a transformation to grant more autonomy to universities, opening up better mechanisms for collaboration with private enterprises.
International support for Vietnam’s strategy
Associate Professor Bui Nguyen Quoc Trinh, Director of the Semiconductor Engineering Technology Program at Vietnam Japan University. Photo: Du Lam
At a recent innovation summit, Mariam J. Sherman, Country Director of the World Bank in Vietnam, also emphasized workforce development as a critical pillar for advancing strategic sectors like semiconductors.
She urged Vietnam to build larger, better talent development systems, invest in higher education, increase the number and quality of graduates, and empower faculty and students to conduct research and gain hands-on experience.
Vietnam's academic push in semiconductor training
By 2025, seven Vietnamese universities will offer semiconductor programs.
Among them, the Vietnam Japan University has already filled its 100-student enrollment quota for its inaugural year in the Semiconductor Engineering Technology program.
These students are expected to graduate in 2030.
With additional transfers from other technical majors, the university anticipates supplying up to 400 highly qualified semiconductor engineers to the job market.
According to Associate Professor Bui Nguyen Quoc Trinh, Director of the Semiconductor Engineering Technology Program, this is the first program in Vietnam to offer direct training in semiconductor engineering.
Students spend their first two years studying foundational subjects before moving on to specialized fields such as IC design, packaging, and testing from the third year onward.
The university also offers three related programs: computer science and engineering, intelligent mechatronics and Japanese-style manufacturing, and intelligent control and automation.
Key skills for future semiconductor engineers
Professor Usagawa emphasized that the semiconductor field is highly competitive and fast-moving.
He identified three essential skills that future semiconductor engineers must possess:
A strong interest in mathematics, physics, computer science, and electronics; The ability to apply logical thinking to solve complex problems without clear-cut answers; A strong motivation to continue learning after graduation.
Vietnamnet.vn
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