(MPI) - On the morning of August 2, 2024, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, authorized by the Ministry's leaders, Mr. Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC) chaired a working session with the delegation of Hiroshima University (Japan) and the University of Idaho (USA) to provide comprehensive information on the semiconductor training program and some related majors as well as discuss scholarships for Vietnamese students to participate.

Mr. Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC) speaking. Photo: MPI

Attending the meeting, on behalf of the delegation of Hiroshima University and the University of Idaho, Professor Shinji Kaneko, Executive Vice President in charge of International Relations; Mr. Torrey Lawrence, Vice President of the University of Idaho and a number of officers and staff of Hiroshima University and the University of Idaho.

At the meeting, the school delegation greeted the commune and introduced information about the two universities. Next, the school delegation also provided information about the semiconductor training program and some related majors being implemented.

Mr. Vu Quoc Huy said that currently, NIC is focusing on short-term training courses to develop human resources in semiconductors and related industries (3- and 6-month courses), so cooperation with top universities in countries with developed semiconductor industries to implement long-term training courses is extremely necessary.

In addition, NIC acts as a connecting factor, calling on high school students in Vietnam to register and participate in the scholarship program of Hiroshima University and the University of Idaho. Along with the development of science and technology in the world, NIC hopes that in the future there will be opportunities to cooperate and receive active support from Hiroshima University and the University of Idaho in the field of semiconductors.

In the context of Vietnam promoting the development of the semiconductor industry, training human resources for the semiconductor industry is a "breakthrough of breakthroughs" in training high-quality human resources. It is very necessary for Vietnam to cooperate with prestigious universities in the world in training semiconductors for students, lecturers and engineers, in line with the priority focuses in each stage of Vietnam and the strengths of each specific partner. International cooperation will help Vietnam quickly achieve the goal that by 2030, Vietnamese semiconductor industry human resources will be deeply involved in the design process of modern semiconductor microcircuits; deeply involved and mastering a part of the technology in the packaging and testing of semiconductor microcircuits; participating in work and gradually grasping the technology in the semiconductor manufacturing stage; Vietnam will train at least 50,000 engineers and bachelors to serve the semiconductor industry in all stages of the value chain. This training program, if implemented effectively, will also create conditions to attract large Japanese and US companies to invest in the semiconductor sector in Vietnam, including Micron Technology.

Professor Shinji Kaneko, Executive Vice President in charge of International Relations, speaking. Photo: MPI

For his part, Mr. Shinji Kaneko, Professor, Executive Vice President, emphasized the importance of long-term cooperation between universities and businesses, and agreed on the need to cooperate in providing scholarships, connecting students with future job opportunities, and making the curriculum for high school students one of their higher education options.

Hiroshima University plans to cooperate with the University of Idaho to conduct a special program to train bachelors in semiconductors, taught in English for 4 years. According to the roadmap, initially registered students will be admitted to the University of Idaho but will study the first two years at Hiroshima University. After 2 years, students will study in the United States and receive an engineering degree from the University of Idaho. This program is undertaken by lecturers at Hiroshima University and the University of Idaho and has support in terms of lecturers, research labs, and equipment from Micron Technology (Micron Technology is a leading multinational semiconductor manufacturing corporation in the United States, headquartered in Idaho and also has a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Hiroshima).

It is expected that graduates of this training program will have many career opportunities in the semiconductor industry in Japan, the US and Vietnam. In addition, the program offers a tuition fee of 10,000 USD/year, which is considered quite preferential compared to the general level in Japan and the US. The program is expected to be implemented from October 2026 after being approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Government of Japan.

In addition, Hiroshima University hopes that the Vietnamese side will consider granting scholarships immediately to at least 50 students, in which case the program can be implemented one year earlier.

It is expected that this month, the Presidents of Hiroshima University and the University of Idaho, along with representatives of Micron Technology, will visit Vietnam, hoping to reach an agreement with relevant ministries or training institutions in Vietnam on a commitment to provide scholarships. If the program is implemented smoothly, the two schools can consider accepting students for training at the Master's and Doctoral levels./.

Tung Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment