In a significant move towards strengthening India’s role in the upgradation of semiconductor industry, the Ministry of Education has initiated important steps to promote talent development in this domain. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), under the Ministry of Education’s purview, has embarked on a mission to enhance India’s semiconductor capabilities.
A high-level delegation, led by TG Sitharam, chairman, AICTE recently undertook a week-long visit to Taiwan from September 9 to 15, 2023. During this visit, academic experts and vice-chancellors engaged with various Taiwanese universities, paving the way for an array of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between Indian and Taiwanese academic institutions. These MoUs encompass skill development, student exchange programs, and collaborative research and development efforts.
Underpinning this initiative is the acknowledgement that semiconductors are integral to virtually every facet of the electronics industry and are poised to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030. India aims to play a pivotal role in semiconductor manufacturing, necessitating the development of a skilled workforce.
A standout feature of this collaboration is the synergy between academia, industry, and government. Certain institutions, dedicated exclusively to skill development, serve as training centres. Industry and government support has enabled these institutions to attain industry certification. The long-term vision is to replicate these training facilities in India, ensuring that the workforce is equipped with the necessary expertise. Collaboration with Taiwan will facilitate knowledge exchange and further enrich these efforts.
Sitharam emphasised the importance of adopting Taiwan’s best practices to enhance practical knowledge in the semiconductor field, with a focus on establishing similar training facilities in India. AICTE is committed to working closely with universities in Taiwan and India to bring these initiatives to fruition.
Currently, 128 colleges have adopted the model curriculum developed by AICTE, with approximately 8,000 skilled individuals expected to join the semiconductor industry in the next few years through these programs. AICTE’s dedication to expanding these numbers underscores its mission to meet the semiconductor industry’s growing demands and foster indigenous capabilities in this critical sector.
