A Rising Demand Vietnam is gearing up for a notable spike in its semiconductor and microchip sector’s human resources needs. Projections from economists at the Fulbright University place this demand at a robust 20,000 engineers in the next half-decade, potentially reaching a whopping 50,000 engineers within a decade.
Current Training and Resources
Highlighting Vietnam’s readiness to cater to this demand, Nguyễn Thu Thuỷ, who helms the Higher Education Department within the nation’s Ministry of Education and Training, cited that the current pool of microchip design engineers stands at an estimated 5,000. In light of insights from technology-focused academia, the yearly demand might hover around 3,000 engineers, a significant portion of whom should ideally hold advanced degrees.
Foreign Investment and Industry
Growth Fueling this demand is the presence of over 50 international businesses that have anchored their investments in Vietnam’s thriving semiconductor domain. This number is only poised to rise as more global corporations turn their gaze towards Vietnam for their microchip design and production ventures.
Educational Endeavors and Policies
Thuỷ emphasizes the nation’s active encouragement of higher educational institutes to bolster their offerings in STEM disciplines. These initiatives aim to sync with the rising demands of pivotal sectors like AI, Big Data, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In a testament to these efforts, the enrollment rates in STEM-focused courses have seen an impressive uptick. Computer science and IT have grown by 17.1%, with engineering technology not far behind at 10.6%.
Challenges and Future Strategies
However, the road ahead is not without its challenges. Vietnam’s educational institutions grapple with attracting students and refining their curriculum to align with stringent industry standards. The state’s support is paramount here.
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In response to these needs, Thuỷ revealed that the Ministry of Education and Training is in the midst of formulating projects that focus on nurturing top-tier talent for high-tech sectors, especially electronics, semiconductors, and microchips. Key strategies include the establishment of research and training hubs zeroing in on Industry 4.0’s core technologies.
Further, an action blueprint centered on semiconductor and microchip technology training and research is on an accelerated track for completion, ready for the Prime Minister’s evaluation in the imminent future.
