Addressing Shortages In Semiconductor Skills Training (ASISST)

Skills shortages across the semiconductor industry present challenges to the UK semiconductor industry in myriad ways, ranging from hindering expansion, through reducing competitiveness, to discouraging funding for innovative startups. Although semiconductor theory is covered in most UK Electronic Engineering (EE) or Physics degree courses, most graduates lack practical semiconductors experience, leaving them ill-prepared for and disinclined to seek jobs in the semiconductor industry. This is compounded by a limited pipeline of future UK talents in the industry. Semiconductor technologies do not feature prominently in school levers' decision-making for degree/apprenticeship choices. The common causes for these issues are lack of awareness and teaching resources/facilities dedicated to semiconductor technologies. The latter require expensive semiconductor manufacturing equipment and highly qualified staff to utilise/maintain.

The ASISST project aims to address the skills shortages by (i) raising the UK public's awareness of the semiconductor industry and (ii) producing accessible, relevant semiconductor training courses to fill identified gaps in UK STEM graduates.

**Raising public awareness** will help to address the skills shortages in the long term, by encouraging more interests among school pupils in EE/Physics. We will

1. Improve the quality of our existing school and FE college engagement activities: Upgrading content and adding practical semiconductor experience.
2. Increase the knowledgebase of STEM ambassadors: Providing additional support and training on semiconductor technologies.
3. Provide a free, basic online course aimed at sixth-formers, FE college students, or non-EE/Physics degree holders.
4. Provide a remote lab for semiconductor device testing aimed at Y10 or upwards school pupils

**Accessible, relevant semiconductor training courses** serve to fill practical skills gaps in UK STEM graduates. We will

1. Provide a free, more in-depth online course aimed at non-EE/Physics STEM degree holders
2. Deliver week-long in-person training courses aimed at STEM undergraduate(UG)/PhD studentsIn the project team, the University of Sheffield has extensive experience in school engagements, practical teaching of semiconductors at UG level, and a diverse range of semiconductor industry contacts. Bay Photonics' expertise in semiconductor device packaging (design and manufacture) is highly significant. ASISST training materials and courses will be informed by their practical know-hows usually absent in even high-quality undergraduate semiconductor modules and textbooks, enabling entrepreneurial students to take academic ideas into production. Phlux has expertise in semiconductor device design, fabrication and testing. Their experience of the entire semiconductor supply chain brings much benefit to designs of online and in-person courses.