3 Sources
[1]
Taiwan cultivates young overseas chip talent with summer camps, university courses
TAIPEI, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Dressed in a white protective suit and face mask, Nicolas Chueh listened intently as a guide introduced a series of silver machines used in manufacturing Taiwan's cutting-edge semiconductors. The 16-year-old was among students from eight countries at the summer camp staged to raise interest in Taiwan's most vital industry amid a fast-declining birth rate that could leave tens of thousands of critical jobs vacant. "I myself really enjoy playing video games. So I'm really just always using these semiconductor products," said Chueh, whose parents enrolled him after he expressed interest. The camp, organised by U.S. chip design software firm Synopsys (SNPS.O), opens new tab , is among several such events staged by chip companies and Taiwanese universities in recent years as demand for semiconductors, which power most electronics and AI servers, surges across the globe. But for the first time this year, Synopsys, which has significant operations in Taiwan to be closer to the semiconductor supply chain, hosted the events both in Mandarin and English as Taiwan searches for overseas talent. "There is an urgent need to strengthen STEM education from an early age," said Robert Li, Synopsys's Taiwan chairman, who believes the camps can increase interest in the chip industry and help prime some of its future leaders. "That is why we are launching this initiative in Taiwan, where its strength in semiconductors meets the challenge of demographic decline. Taken together, it is clear we must act here first." Given limitations posed by Taiwan's ageing population, Synopsys is also considering hosting camps internationally to spur interest in chip making and designing, he added. The company charges T$33,000 ($1,103) for the English versions and T$10,900 for Mandarin. Chueh, a dual Taiwan-Belgian national who lives in Singapore, said he views semiconductors as an attractive career choice. "I want to lean into it to some extent because I think it will be crucial in the future with AI." SLUMPING BIRTH RATE Taiwan, which has a population of around 23 million, holds outsized influence over the global semiconductor supply chain, thanks to its chip companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (2330.TW), opens new tab, the world's largest contract chipmaker, MediaTek (2454.TW), opens new tab, and UMC (2303.TW), opens new tab. Any decline in the industry poses an existential threat to Taiwan, which faces the threat of invasion from Beijing and draws much of its global significance from the chip behemoths. But job openings in the semiconductor sector have risen from 19,401 in the second quarter of 2020 to 33,725 in the same period this year, according to 104 Corporation, a local human resources firm. The industry is grappling with a shortage of both highly skilled professionals, such as IC design and semiconductor R&D engineers, and essential production staff, including operators and assembly technicians. Filling those jobs locally is becoming harder each year as Taiwan's annual number of births has dropped from over 210,000 in 2014 to around 135,000 in 2024, according to government statistics. STEM graduates have also fallen by around 15% in that period, Ministry of Education statistics showed. "Growth in Taiwan's semiconductor industry has been quite rapid, faster than what our schools can produce in terms of engineering talent each year," said Leuh Fang, chairman of Vanguard International Semiconductor(5347.TWO), opens new tab , a Taiwan-based chipmaker affiliated with TSMC. 'THE FUTURE WORKFORCE' Last year, the National Taiwan University launched a global undergraduate semiconductor program for foreign students, which included Mandarin courses to help them reach the proficiency needed to stay and work in Taiwan. The program now enrols over 40 students from more than 10 countries. TSMC also began looking toward foreign talent by throwing its weight behind a program in Germany's Saxony state, which would send German students to study for a semester at Taiwanese universities before interning at TSMC. Other initiatives are attempting to create interest among children as young as 10. Taiwan's National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) launched an outreach program in July, backed by TSMC, aimed at making chip science fun through interactive teaching tools and online games. "The issue everyone is discussing now is where the future workforce will come from," said NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin. "If they're curious now, they won't reject it later and some may even grow to like this kind of work." Reporting by Wen-Yee Lee; Editing by Brenda Goh and Saad Sayeed Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
[2]
Taiwan Cultivates Young Overseas Chip Talent With Summer Camps, University Courses
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Dressed in a white protective suit and face mask, Nicolas Chueh listened intently as a guide introduced a series of silver machines used in manufacturing Taiwan's cutting-edge semiconductors. The 16-year-old was among students from eight countries at the summer camp staged to raise interest in Taiwan's most vital industry amid a fast-declining birth rate that could leave tens of thousands of critical jobs vacant. "I myself really enjoy playing video games. So I'm really just always using these semiconductor products," said Chueh, whose parents enrolled him after he expressed interest. The camp, organised by U.S. chip design software firm Synopsys, is among several such events staged by chip companies and Taiwanese universities in recent years as demand for semiconductors, which power most electronics and AI servers, surges across the globe. But for the first time this year, Synopsys, which has significant operations in Taiwan to be closer to the semiconductor supply chain, hosted the events both in Mandarin and English as Taiwan searches for overseas talent. "There is an urgent need to strengthen STEM education from an early age," said Robert Li, Synopsys's Taiwan chairman, who believes the camps can increase interest in the chip industry and help prime some of its future leaders. "That is why we are launching this initiative in Taiwan, where its strength in semiconductors meets the challenge of demographic decline. Taken together, it is clear we must act here first." Given limitations posed by Taiwan's ageing population, Synopsys is also considering hosting camps internationally to spur interest in chip making and designing, he added. The company charges T$33,000 ($1,103) for the English versions and T$10,900 for Mandarin. Chueh, a dual Taiwan-Belgian national who lives in Singapore, said he views semiconductors as an attractive career choice. "I want to lean into it to some extent because I think it will be crucial in the future with AI." SLUMPING BIRTH RATE Taiwan, which has a population of around 23 million, holds outsized influence over the global semiconductor supply chain, thanks to its chip companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's largest contract chipmaker, MediaTek, and UMC. Any decline in the industry poses an existential threat to Taiwan, which faces the threat of invasion from Beijing and draws much of its global significance from the chip behemoths. But job openings in the semiconductor sector have risen from 19,401 in the second quarter of 2020 to 33,725 in the same period this year, according to 104 Corporation, a local human resources firm. The industry is grappling with a shortage of both highly skilled professionals, such as IC design and semiconductor R&D engineers, and essential production staff, including operators and assembly technicians. Filling those jobs locally is becoming harder each year as Taiwan's annual number of births has dropped from over 210,000 in 2014 to around 135,000 in 2024, according to government statistics. STEM graduates have also fallen by around 15% in that period, Ministry of Education statistics showed. "Growth in Taiwan's semiconductor industry has been quite rapid, faster than what our schools can produce in terms of engineering talent each year," said Leuh Fang, chairman of Vanguard International Semiconductor, a Taiwan-based chipmaker affiliated with TSMC. 'THE FUTURE WORKFORCE' Last year, the National Taiwan University launched a global undergraduate semiconductor program for foreign students, which included Mandarin courses to help them reach the proficiency needed to stay and work in Taiwan. The program now enrols over 40 students from more than 10 countries. TSMC also began looking toward foreign talent by throwing its weight behind a program in Germany's Saxony state, which would send German students to study for a semester at Taiwanese universities before interning at TSMC. Other initiatives are attempting to create interest among children as young as 10. Taiwan's National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) launched an outreach program in July, backed by TSMC, aimed at making chip science fun through interactive teaching tools and online games. "The issue everyone is discussing now is where the future workforce will come from," said NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin. "If they're curious now, they won't reject it later and some may even grow to like this kind of work." (Reporting by Wen-Yee Lee; Editing by Brenda Goh and Saad Sayeed)
[3]
Taiwan cultivates young overseas chip talent with summer camps, university courses
TAIPEI (Reuters) -Dressed in a white protective suit and face mask, Nicolas Chueh listened intently as a guide introduced a series of silver machines used in manufacturing Taiwan's cutting-edge semiconductors. The 16-year-old was among students from eight countries at the summer camp staged to raise interest in Taiwan's most vital industry amid a fast-declining birth rate that could leave tens of thousands of critical jobs vacant. "I myself really enjoy playing video games. So I'm really just always using these semiconductor products," said Chueh, whose parents enrolled him after he expressed interest. The camp, organised by U.S. chip design software firm Synopsys, is among several such events staged by chip companies and Taiwanese universities in recent years as demand for semiconductors, which power most electronics and AI servers, surges across the globe. But for the first time this year, Synopsys, which has significant operations in Taiwan to be closer to the semiconductor supply chain, hosted the events both in Mandarin and English as Taiwan searches for overseas talent. "There is an urgent need to strengthen STEM education from an early age," said Robert Li, Synopsys's Taiwan chairman, who believes the camps can increase interest in the chip industry and help prime some of its future leaders. "That is why we are launching this initiative in Taiwan, where its strength in semiconductors meets the challenge of demographic decline. Taken together, it is clear we must act here first." Given limitations posed by Taiwan's ageing population, Synopsys is also considering hosting camps internationally to spur interest in chip making and designing, he added. The company charges T$33,000 ($1,103) for the English versions and T$10,900 for Mandarin. Chueh, a dual Taiwan-Belgian national who lives in Singapore, said he views semiconductors as an attractive career choice. "I want to lean into it to some extent because I think it will be crucial in the future with AI." SLUMPING BIRTH RATE Taiwan, which has a population of around 23 million, holds outsized influence over the global semiconductor supply chain, thanks to its chip companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, the world's largest contract chipmaker, MediaTek, and UMC. Any decline in the industry poses an existential threat to Taiwan, which faces the threat of invasion from Beijing and draws much of its global significance from the chip behemoths. But job openings in the semiconductor sector have risen from 19,401 in the second quarter of 2020 to 33,725 in the same period this year, according to 104 Corporation, a local human resources firm. The industry is grappling with a shortage of both highly skilled professionals, such as IC design and semiconductor R&D engineers, and essential production staff, including operators and assembly technicians. Filling those jobs locally is becoming harder each year as Taiwan's annual number of births has dropped from over 210,000 in 2014 to around 135,000 in 2024, according to government statistics. STEM graduates have also fallen by around 15% in that period, Ministry of Education statistics showed. "Growth in Taiwan's semiconductor industry has been quite rapid, faster than what our schools can produce in terms of engineering talent each year," said Leuh Fang, chairman of Vanguard International Semiconductor, a Taiwan-based chipmaker affiliated with TSMC. 'THE FUTURE WORKFORCE' Last year, the National Taiwan University launched a global undergraduate semiconductor program for foreign students, which included Mandarin courses to help them reach the proficiency needed to stay and work in Taiwan. The program now enrols over 40 students from more than 10 countries. TSMC also began looking toward foreign talent by throwing its weight behind a program in Germany's Saxony state, which would send German students to study for a semester at Taiwanese universities before interning at TSMC. Other initiatives are attempting to create interest among children as young as 10. Taiwan's National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) launched an outreach program in July, backed by TSMC, aimed at making chip science fun through interactive teaching tools and online games. "The issue everyone is discussing now is where the future workforce will come from," said NYCU President Chi-Hung Lin. "If they're curious now, they won't reject it later and some may even grow to like this kind of work." (Reporting by Wen-Yee Lee; Editing by Brenda Goh and Saad Sayeed)
Share
Copy Link
Taiwan is addressing its semiconductor industry's talent shortage through summer camps and university programs, targeting both local and international students to secure its future in the global chip market.
Taiwan, a global powerhouse in semiconductor manufacturing, is facing a critical challenge: a shortage of skilled workers in its most vital industry. With a rapidly declining birth rate and an aging population, the island nation is taking innovative steps to cultivate young talent, both domestically and internationally, to maintain its dominance in the chip sector 1.
One of the key initiatives is the organization of summer camps for students from various countries. U.S. chip design software firm Synopsys recently hosted a camp where students, like 16-year-old Nicolas Chueh, got hands-on experience with cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing equipment 2. These camps, offered in both Mandarin and English, aim to increase interest in the chip industry and nurture future leaders.
Source: Reuters
Robert Li, Synopsys's Taiwan chairman, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen STEM education from an early age. The company is even considering hosting camps internationally to spur global interest in chip making and designing 3.
Taiwan's universities are also playing a crucial role in addressing the talent shortage. The National Taiwan University has launched a global undergraduate semiconductor program for foreign students, which includes Mandarin courses to help them integrate into Taiwan's workforce. The program currently enrolls over 40 students from more than 10 countries 1.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), the world's largest contract chipmaker, is actively participating in these efforts. The company is supporting a program in Germany's Saxony state, which allows German students to study for a semester at Taiwanese universities before interning at TSMC 2.
Taiwan's semiconductor industry is grappling with a significant increase in job openings, rising from 19,401 in the second quarter of 2020 to 33,725 in the same period this year. This surge in demand comes at a time when Taiwan's annual birth rate has plummeted from over 210,000 in 2014 to around 135,000 in 2024 3.
Source: Market Screener
Recognizing the need to cultivate interest from a young age, Taiwan's National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) has launched an outreach program aimed at children as young as 10. Backed by TSMC, this initiative uses interactive teaching tools and online games to make chip science engaging and fun 1.
As Taiwan faces the dual challenges of maintaining its global semiconductor leadership and addressing its demographic decline, these educational initiatives are crucial. By fostering interest in chip technology among young people both locally and internationally, Taiwan aims to secure a skilled workforce for its semiconductor industry, which is vital not only for its economy but also for its global strategic importance 2.
Summarized by
Navi
[2]
U.S. News & World Report
|Taiwan Cultivates Young Overseas Chip Talent With Summer Camps, University CoursesDemis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind, discusses the rapid progress of AI, its potential to revolutionize various fields, and the challenges that come with its development.
2 Sources
Technology
6 hrs ago
2 Sources
Technology
6 hrs ago
Apple forms a new team to develop an in-house AI chatbot and search experience, aiming to compete with ChatGPT and revitalize its AI efforts.
5 Sources
Technology
14 hrs ago
5 Sources
Technology
14 hrs ago
Mental health professionals raise concerns about the growing trend of young people turning to AI chatbots for emotional support, warning of potential risks to mental health and social skills development.
5 Sources
Health
22 hrs ago
5 Sources
Health
22 hrs ago
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas claims their new AI browser, Comet, can automate recruiter and administrative assistant roles with a single prompt, potentially disrupting white-collar jobs.
2 Sources
Technology
22 hrs ago
2 Sources
Technology
22 hrs ago
David Sacks and other tech leaders argue that AI still requires significant human involvement, challenging the narrative of widespread job losses due to artificial intelligence.
2 Sources
Technology
6 hrs ago
2 Sources
Technology
6 hrs ago