In March, we highlighted Viet Nam’s National Semiconductor Strategy (https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/news/news/viet-nam-targ...) which aims to train up 50,000 engineers for the semiconductor industry at all stages of the value chain, including at least 5,000 with deep expertise in artificial intelligence. The project also targets to raise up approximately 1,300 internationally qualified lecturers.

The ball is already rolling - as an update, human resources training for the semi-conductor industry have already kickstarted. In early May, the first technology talent development programme by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in collaboration with Samsung Vietnam kicked off at the National Innovation Center (NIC) Hoa Lac campus. Samsung Viet Nam, in coordination with NIC, will organize classes on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data for about 200 students from a number of universities, including Hanoi National University and FPT University.

Elsewhere, a Viet Nam Semiconductor Hub for Education (VSHE) is to be established by the National Innovation Centre (NIC), FPT Corporation and Tresemi, where 300 scholarships will be provided for students in semi-conductor courses to pursue international-standard upskill training programs at 20 leading universities in Vietnam, to support microchip design projects in 2024. Meanwhile, the Việt Nam-Korea University (VKU) also started the first project in central Viet Nam to train up between 600 to 1,000 engineers by 2028. Many other Vietnamese universities are also actively preparing for the commencement of semi-conductor training programmes at the start of the upcoming academic year in September.

Currently, nearly 160 out of about 240 universities across the country are providing technology training, which will be enhanced to cover semiconductors, and 35 educational institutions are offering majors related to semiconductors. Vietnamese universities are actively incorporating this strategy into their planning and are seeking to train new engineers, re-train or upskill graduates to support the whole semi-conductor value chain as well as produce Master’s and PhD holders as experts in the field. This will invariably require universities to attract high quality teaching staff and leading experts to Viet Nam.

Source
https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/news/news/viet-nam-targ...
https://vietnamlawmagazine.vn/semiconductor-workforce-development-a-brea...
https://vietbay.com.vn/en/the-national-innovation-center-nic-and-siemens...
https://hanoitimes.vn/it-training-urged-to-focus-on-semiconductors-32669...
https://vietnamnews.vn/society/1653048/key-semiconductor-manpower-traini...
(https://en.sggp.org.vn/first-training-program-held-to-provide-personnel-...)

What’s in it for the UK?
The demand for workforce training and programmes to meet the high goals and targets set by the government in developing a high quality workforce in semiconductors, is huge. Universities in Viet Nam are actively working to meet the national strategic target by 2030, and are open for international collaboration.

UK higher education institutions are encouraged to explore partnership opportunities in developing joint training programmes in areas related to semi-conductors. There may also be opportunities to support local universities in conducting short-term training courses for teaching staff, and to upskill graduates in semiconductor related areas. Project 89 (https://www.britishcouncil.vn/sites/default/files/workshop-project-89-ke...) is another platform to explore collaborations in PhD research and training for Vietnamese government scholars.