On 1 June 2024, Prof. Dr. Supachai Pathumnakul, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), presided over the closing ceremony of the Semiconductor Bootcamp 2024 at KX Knowledge Xchange, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). This bootcamp is a special cooperative education program (Coop+) aimed at developing workforces in “Semiconductors and Advanced Electronics”.
Representatives from participating organizations attended the event, including Dr. Oraphan Wiarachai, Senior Director of National Demand Driven Manpower Policy Division at NXPO; Dr. Sampan Silapanad, President of Thai Association for Cooperative Education (TACE) and Co-Chairman of World Association for Cooperative & Work-Integrated Education (WACE); Assoc. Prof. Chiranut Sa-ngiamsak, Chairman of Semiconductor Sandbox Courses Working Group at MHESI; Mr. Wannaphop Klomklieng, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of KX Knowledge Xchange, KMUTT; Prof. Dr. Uma Seeboonruang, Vice Dean of Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL); and Dr. Aran Blattler, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB). Also joining the ceremony were executives from partner companies, including Analog Devices (Thailand) Company Limited, Silicon Craft Technology Public Company Limited and SCB Academy.
The event featured student project presentations and the awarding of certificates to students. Over 100 third- and fourth-year students in electronics and related fields from 14 universities participated in this bootcamp.
Dr. Supachai stated that this project was established as a national platform for workforce development in semiconductors and advanced electronics. Over the past year, various initiatives have been implemented, including this bootcamp, which provided training to students before their internships at companies. He expressed gratitude to the eight Thai companies joining this program.
The Semiconductor Bootcamp 2024 was held from 23 May to 1 June. It is part of the pre-sessional course under the Coop+ program. Eight companies participating in the program are Analog Devices (Thailand) Company Limited, Delta Electronics (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Hana Microelectronics Public Company Limited, Hana Semiconductor (Ayutthaya) Company Limited, Infineon Technologies (Thailand) Company Limited, Silicon Craft Technology Public Company Limited, Nisshinbo Micro Devices Thailand Company Limited, and PTT Public Company Limited. These companies help identify necessary skill sets, participate in Campus Tour across Thailand to recruit students, provide instructors for the bootcamp and online courses, and accept students for internships.
The 10-day bootcamp covered three main areas: 1) instruments and analog & digital fundamentals, conducted by the KMUTNB Faculty of Engineering; 2) semiconductor automatic test equipment and circuit simulation, taught by the KMITL Faculty of Engineering and Analog Devices (Thailand); and 3) soft skills such as planning, teamwork, communication, and presentation, organized by KMUTT KX. Following this bootcamp, students will enter internships for at least six months at companies to gain practical skills. The Coop+ is funded by MHESI, through the Office of the Permanent Secretary and NXPO, as a model for developing highly skilled workforces to attract foreign investment.
