UMC, Ngee Ann Polytechnic Team Up To Amplify Semiconductor Talent Pipeline

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), a global semiconductor foundry, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) to enhance training for engineering talents and expand the workforce for the growing semiconductor industry.

Under the agreement, UMC will contribute to course design for the microelectronics specialisation of the Diploma in Electronic & Computer Engineering (ECE) offered by NP, bringing industry perspective to help students better prepare for future careers in the semiconductor field.

“It is very exciting to witness the heightened level of interest in the semiconductor field over the last few years, and we hope by teaming up with academic institutions like NP we can strengthen the talent pipeline to support the industry’s future growth,” said UMC Vice President, Michael Hsu in a statement.

Meanwhile, NP School of Engineering Director, Tan Wei Lian said: “NP’s timely partnership with UMC enables us to equip students with industry-relevant knowledge and practical experience, positioning them to meet industry challenges and drive the future of semiconductor technology.

“We look forward to UMC’s role in co-designing, co-delivering and co-assessing the curriculum for our ECE microelectronics specialisation, and providing exciting opportunities for working professionals to upskill or reskill.”

In addition to full-time diploma courses, UMC and NP are exploring the development of semiconductor work-study programmes for recent graduates to gain practical training and continuing education training (CET) courses offering working professionals upskilling and reskilling opportunities.

UMC is currently expanding its existing site (Fab 12i) in Pasir Ris Wafer Fab Park, set to be one of the most advanced semiconductor foundries in Singapore when it begins production in 2026. It is also expected to create a significant number of skilled engineering jobs as the new facility scales up production.

Fab 12i plays a critical role in satisfying demand from UMC’s global customer base, accounting for approximately 14 per cent of total capacity, and the company’s largest research and development team outside of Taiwan, where it is headquartered, is also located in Fab 12i.

-- BERNAMA