From 2024, there will be an opportunity to simultaneously achieve a semiconductor degree and a job at Pusan National University (PNU).

On July 27, the launching ceremony of PNU's Department of Semiconductor Process and Equipment (Dept. of Semiconductor Contract) was held at the Busan Paradise Hotel. In June, the university was selected as the "2023 Early Employment Contract Department Leading University Promotion Industry," organized by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. It is a part of a government project to train domestic semiconductor workers early by linking education and employment. Accordingly, PNU will establish a graduate course in the Dept. of Semiconductor Contract in 2024 and receive 7.5 billion won in support for three years.

The Dept. of Semiconductor Contract guarantees early employment of its students by connecting with semiconductor companies. The department is a recruitment conditional department in which companies participate in hiring new students and operate a curriculum tailored to the company's workforce demand. Students of the Dept. of Semiconductor Contract from a hired company receive full tuition support and complete a professional semiconductor curriculum to obtain a degree and a job opportunity.

PNU's Dept. of Semiconductor Contract works with semiconductor companies nationwide. Small and medium-sized enterprises in the semiconductor special zone and companies in Busan, such as Enisse, SK Powertech, AP Systems and H&IRUJA will participate in this project. Lee Hae-Joon (Prof. of Electronics Engineering, PNU), who was in charge of the project, said, "12 companies are already participating in this contract department project. We will try to attract more corporate participation in the future."

Students who aim to enter a semiconductor-related department have high expectations. This is because employment is guaranteed at the same time as taking graduate programs, so they can work and study simultaneously. Park Joon-Seo (Dept of. Electrical Engineering, 21) said, "In the case of semiconductor process equipment, it is not easy to access in general graduate schools. I think completing this course will help me get a job after graduation."

PNU professors said that the collaboration between PNU and Busan has created a synergy effect on the project selection. It means that presenting a vision linked to the city's plan to foster semiconductors helped attract semiconductor-related projects to universities in Busan, called "semiconductor wasteland." Prof. Lee said, "There were few semiconductor companies in the region below Chungnam, so it was hard to plan the business. However, Busan is actively attracting automotive power semiconductor companies, and PNU presented a vision to produce local industrial manpower accordingly."

Busan's semiconductor industry development is expected to accelerate through this project, centering on PNU. Previously, PNU was selected for various semiconductor-related projects such as "Semiconductor Specialized University Support Project" and "Semiconductor Joint Research Institute Construction Project by Region" (reported by Channel PNU on June 2, 2023). In addition, selecting the early employment contract department project will provide 90 billion won worth of semiconductor-related support from the government.

Reporter You Seung-Hyun

Translated by Ha Chae-Won