These courses will help in expanding the semiconductor industry by teaching state-of-the-art technology for producing microprocessor quality microprocessors by reducing the space occupied by electronic gadgets by integrating hundreds of transistors into a single microchip. Students doing these courses will get employment in IC design companies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tech domain and smartphone companies.
Speaking to Education Times, MP Poonia, Vice-Chairman, AICTE, says, “The courses have been approved to produce trained manpower in the field of semiconductors and display manufacturing which will play a vital role in making the country self-reliant in both these domains. . Currently, India is dependent on imports of semiconductors and electronic hardware from countries like Taiwan and China. This is an emerging sector and there is a demand for technically sound resources.
The two courses are in line with the demands of Industry 4.0. And VLSI Design and Technology will be taught to the students of Electronics and Communication Engineering.
“Students will be taught 18 to 20 additional credits related to VLSI design and technology. A course on IC fabrication is also being developed for polytechnic students, the duration of which will be of three years and the secondary objective is to connect educational institutions with industry,” says Poonia.
Subjects such as design, fabrication and knowledge related to the requirements of semiconductors will be taught as part of the two courses. There is a great need for semiconductor chips in automobiles these days and both the courses will consist of electives and open electives.
As part of the curriculum curriculum, students will also undergo a six-month internship in IC manufacturing units, which will provide industry experience to the students, Poonia says.
Abhay Bansal, Joint Head, Amity School of Engineering and Technology, Noida (UP) says, “We are going to start BTech program in Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design and Technology) soon as per the directive of AICTE. The curriculum curriculum has been designed in consultation with leading academics and industry experts. Also, we will mention the AICTE model syllabus once it becomes available and incorporate it for best teaching and academic delivery to the students.”
After doing course in VLSI Design and Technology, students will be able to be employed as Design Engineer, Testing and Validation Engineer, Front-end Designer – ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit Design) / FPGA (Field, Programmable Gate Arrays). DFT (Design for Test) Engineer.