The ongoing US-China trade war has created a human resource dilemma for China. US restrictions on Beijing’s access to advanced chip technology have led to a shortage of semiconductor experts in the country. Consequently, China is increasing its efforts to cultivate domestic talent in this field.

Export controls resulting from the ongoing trade war have hindered China’s semiconductor aspirations, which are at the center of the technology competition between the US and China. China Center for Information Industry Development, and the China Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA), have jointly published a white paper stating that China is expected to experience a deficit of approximately 200,000 workers in the semiconductor industry this year. 

Right now the biggest challenge for the semiconductor industry in China is to acquire domestic talent. Despite attempting various solutions, such as attracting experts from Taiwan and other countries,  Beijing faces a human resource shortage in the industry. 

How is China solving the problem of talent shortage?

To address the problem of talent shortage, China is now turning to its student population to train the next generation of semiconductor professionals, with prestigious universities such as Tsinghua, Peking, and Fudan announcing IC programming programs. The central government is also providing policy support for this initiative.

Over the past five years, there has been a notable increase in enrolments for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in chip engineering, which can be attributed to the availability of new funds for leading universities as well as a proliferation of smaller private schools that offer shorter-term instruction. University data shows that the number of students enrolling in Master’s programs to study chip engineering at ten leading universities almost doubled between 2018 and 2022. According to recent graduates, this surge is also being reflected at the undergraduate level. 

In August 2020, China’s State Council released policy guidelines that stated that the cultivation of talent in chip engineering is a key priority for the country and, the focus should be on education and training. The country plans to increase the number of IC and software majors in Chinese universities, accelerate the development of IC disciplines, and expand laboratories and training facilities,  to meet the needs of the industry. Moreover, eligible universities have been encouraged to partner with semiconductor firms to develop comprehensive programs that can provide hands-on experience.

What are the problems with China’s current chip education?

According to a 2022 survey conducted by Chinese research firm ICWise, over 60% of chip engineering students in China complete their studies without any internship experience in the field. Moreover, the teaching materials used in chip engineering education are often outdated, with textbooks not covering the latest cutting-edge technology. Also, many professors lack opportunities for sufficient interaction with industry professionals and are restricted by private companies’ intellectual property rights, which prevents them from accessing the latest expert knowledge. Furthermore, most educational institutions are unable to afford and maintain expensive experimental production lines that can bridge the gap between theory and practice.

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