Purdue and leading microelectronics industry association SEMI partner to bolster semiconductor education

Online courses developed by Purdue faculty will be available on the association’s learning platform

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University is partnering with SEMI, the leading global microelectronics industry association, to create online courses aimed at bolstering the semiconductor workforce.

The association’s SEMI University (SEMI U) online learning platform is tailored for the global semiconductor and electronics industry, offering over 700 courses in multiple languages and flexible formats. SEMI U builds on SEMI’s more than 50-year history of fostering innovation, driving technological advancements and facilitating the growth of the global microelectronics industry.

Under the memorandum of understanding between the partners, expert Purdue faculty will develop online courses to be available through SEMI U, and Purdue will issue digital badges certifying that learners have completed a course and gained the related knowledge and skills. 

The framework for the partnership was announced recently at CHIPS for America: Execute for Global Success, a daylong summit in Washington, D.C., focused on U.S. competitiveness in semiconductor research and workforce development. 

“The SEMI University and Purdue partnership reflects the vital importance of aligning the semiconductor industry and academia on workforce development efforts,” SEMI University director Naresh Naik said. “The online courses will help industry newcomers quickly develop needed skills for industry careers, and existing workers will have a convenient option to keep pace and upskill in this fast-evolving field.”

Purdue’s agreement with SEMI is one of numerous global partnerships and initiatives formed by the university to advance the future of microelectronics and semiconductors, said Dimitrios Peroulis, senior vice president for Purdue University Online.

“This agreement to create and offer courses through SEMI U opens up yet another opportunity for Purdue to leverage its substantial expertise in microelectronics and semiconductors, contributing to the growth and improvement of the industry,” Peroulis said. 

SEMI’s nonprofit arm, the SEMI Foundation, drives workforce development initiatives to increase awareness of semiconductor industry careers, connect member companies with university students for mentoring and internships, attract and train military veterans, and develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

Purdue is a national leader in research and education involving microelectronics materials, devices, chip design, tool development, manufacturing, packaging and sustainability, spanning the semiconductor ecosystem in software and hardware with long-standing faculty excellence. Strategic initiatives, such as the first comprehensive, large-scale Semiconductor Degrees Program, announced by Purdue in 2022, are intended to prepare the next generation of semiconductor industry workers, a cornerstone for advancing the field.

“Semiconductors are part of Purdue’s institutional DNA,” said Vijay Raghunathan, vice president for Global Partnerships and Programs, director of the Semiconductor Degrees Program, and professor of electrical and computer engineering. “I don’t know of any other university more committed to moving microelectronics and semiconductor research and development, as well as education and training, forward.”

Purdue’s growing semiconductor innovation ecosystem is one of four key pillars of Purdue Computes, a comprehensive initiative that also includes positioning the Department of Computer Science as a top 10 national program, becoming a leader in the field of physical artificial intelligence, and advancing quantum science and engineering to create future technologies that enable unparalleled excellence at scale. 

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution demonstrating excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top four in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, including nearly 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 13 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives. 

About SEMI

SEMI® is the global industry association connecting over 3,000 member companies and 1.5 million professionals worldwide across the semiconductor and electronics design and manufacturing supply chain. SEMI® accelerates member collaboration on solutions to top industry challenges through Advocacy, Workforce Development, Sustainability, Supply Chain Management and other programs. SEMICON® expositions and events, technology communities, standards and market intelligence help advance members’ business growth and innovations in design, devices, equipment, materials, services and software, enabling smarter, faster, more secure electronics. Visit www.semi.org, contact a regional office, and connect with SEMI® on LinkedIn and X to learn more. 

Writer: Greg Kline

Media contact: Brian Huchel, bhuchel@purdue.edu

Sources: Dimitrios Peroulis, dperouli@purdue.edu

Vijay Raghunathan, vr@purdue.edu