India's Semiconductor Industry On The Rise: Embracing Online Education For Acquiring Industry-Relevant Skills

According to India Semiconductor Mission, the semiconductor industry, a key player in electronics manufacturing, is expected to witness a surge in demand, reaching $110 billion by 2030.

By Dr Boby George 

The semiconductor industry is a vital player in the overall growth and technological advancements of the country. This industry includes electronics manufacturing, packaging, and electronic systems dealing with electronic hardware and associated software for various industrial, consumer electronics, automotive, defence, mobile or medical applications. It is a fast growing domain, for example, the advancements in the electronic chips made the computing that we do today or machine learning etc. practically possible. 

According to India Semiconductor Mission, the semiconductor industry, a key player in electronics manufacturing, is expected to witness a surge in demand, reaching $110 billion by 2030. To position itself as a resilient global partner in the electronics and semiconductor supply chain, the Government of India's "Make in India" initiative is creating an enabling environment and helps to lay the groundwork. 

As we know, the India's semiconductor industry enhancement goals are driven by three key objectives.

First, facilitating the adoption of trusted electronics through secure semiconductor and display supply chains.

Second, providing necessary support, including Electronic Design Automation tools and services, to foster growth.

Lastly, promoting indigenous Intellectual Property (IP) generation and incentivizing technology transfer. 

Need For Skilled Professionals In Electronic Systems 

There is a crucial need for skilled professionals in Electronic systems and Semiconductor, in large numbers, to achieve the objectives of the Semiconductor Mission. In fact, a critical challenge hindering the growth of the semiconductor industry is the shortage of such skilled professionals.

While India has ambitious targets to generate a workforce of nearly one lakh skilled professionals specialized in semiconductor design and manufacturing by 2026, the proportion of students pursuing core electronics hardware manufacturing or the semiconductor industry falls short of expectations compared to fields like IT or ITES. In addition, imparting industry ready skills with quality to a large set of students, in this domain, is a challenge. Encouraging a larger number of students to pursue electronics programs and enter these thriving fields is imperative.

Online Education In Electronics in India 

In recent years, online education has emerged as an effective solution to address the skill gap in various domains, including electronics. NPTEL's courses in Electronics, offered by the IITs and IISc and funded by the Ministry of Education, have been at the forefront of this effort since 2003. These courses, along with other online platforms like YouTube and e-learning, have provided learners and professionals with opportunities to acquire new skills and upgrade their knowledge in electronics. NPTEL offers close to 600+ courses for certification every semester in about 22 disciplines, including Electronics. 

Need For Structured Online Learning In Electronics 

While there are existing online courses in electronics, there is a need for structured learning programs to meet the demand for skilled individuals. A program with multiple exit options, which helps students to learn from basics and helps them to gain industry ready skills and knowledge in the field of electronics is the need of the hour. Such programs must not be limited to a few students in the classroom and should be scalable, keeping in mind the large demand for skilled individuals in the field of electronics and semiconductor. 

Innovative academic programs such as the BS in Electronic Systems offered by IIT Madras have emerged to bridge this gap.

Benefits Of Programs like BS In Electronic Systems 

The benefits of programs like the BS in Electronic Systems are manifold. Firstly, they provide flexibility for students to learn from anywhere without compromising on the program's academic rigor. Secondly, this program includes detailed lab sessions conducted on campus, allowing students to learn by doing and experience the campus environment. Thirdly, students have the opportunity to intern or apprentice with various companies, gaining real-life project experience and a deeper understanding of the electronics and semiconductor industry. These internships often lead to better career prospects and growth opportunities. 

Finally, completing structured programs like the BS in Electronic Systems opens up a range of career opportunities. In addition to higher studies, the graduates can pursue roles such as Electronic System Designer, Embedded System Developer, System Testing Engineer, Electronic Hardware Specialist, Project Engineer, Electronics Research Engineer, and more in industries like Automotive, Semiconductor, Defense, and others. 

Conclusion 

As India's semiconductor industry strives to meet the increasing demand of quality electronic system engineers, the focus on online education and innovative programs like the BS in Electronic Systems is essential to prepare quality skilled workforce in large scale and ensure a prosperous future for the electronics and semiconductor industry in the country.

The author is Professor and Coordinator BS in Electronic Systems, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras.

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