Investing in a research and practical training center for semiconductor technology is considered a high-risk venture. Even large public universities have had to carefully weigh their options before making such a decision.

Yet a private institution like Dai Nam University has acted swiftly and decisively.

Six months after the university’s leadership visited Taiwan (China), the Center for Semiconductor Experimentation and Technology Transfer, under the Faculty of Semiconductor Technology at Dai Nam University, was officially inaugurated on March 4.

The center’s list of academic and corporate partners includes numerous reputable names from Taiwan (China), such as TSMC, D-Link, TSG, Chunyu Group, Neweb, Qisda, Lung Hwa University of Science and Technology, Minghsin University of Science and Technology, Providence University, and Kun Shan University.

Nguyen Lan Trang, Dean of Semiconductor Technology, said that the Center for Semiconductor Experimentation and Technology Transfer was rapidly established in line with the spirit of the Politburo’s Resolution 57. This resolution focuses on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, aiming to establish Vietnam as a semiconductor industry hub by 2040-2050.

The center has three primary objectives: to meet the practical training needs of semiconductor engineers through specialized hands-on exercises, preparing students for the job market; to provide an environment equipped with sufficient facilities for faculty members to conduct scientific research; and to facilitate the transfer of semiconductor technology to partners and entities in need.

The Faculty of Semiconductor Technology at Dai Nam University began admitting students in the 2024-2025 academic year, recruiting 160 students in its inaugural cohort. This year, it plans to enroll 400-500 students.

The faculty is currently following a "2 plus 2" system, meaning two years of study at Dai Nam University followed by two years in Taiwan. Students at Dai Nam only need to pay tuition for the first two years, while the subsequent two years in Taiwan will be fully funded by Taiwanese partners.

"New graduates can earn salaries as high as VND20-25 million per month," Trang noted.

Under the Program for Developing Human Resources in the Semiconductor Industry by 2030, approved by the Government last year, 18 universities will receive state funding to establish or upgrade semiconductor laboratories to ensure training capacity.

As a private institution, Dai Nam University has doesn’t receive state support for its semiconductor center.

The total investment for phase one of the center is several billion dong.

In phase two, the university will invest further in practical laboratories for testing and packaging—two critical areas where Vietnamese professionals can excel.

Binh Minh