Kick-off third edition Semiconductor Packaging University Program

August 29, 2022 – Today, the third edition of the Semiconductor Packaging University Program started at the Novio Tech Campus in Nijmegen. Twenty four participants attended the program live and four followed the live stream. Over the next five months, they will be introduced to the semiconductor industry and delve into the final step of chip manufacturing: chip packaging.

Tailor-made program

CITC and HAN University of Applied Sciences (HAN), developed this program tailored to the specific needs of semiconductor companies. The program focuses on the design and manufacturing of semiconductor packages and the associated assembly, reliability and test techniques. It includes a practical assignment that will be carried out on the premises of either a semiconductor company or CITC.

Mix of bachelor students and semicon staff

Like the previous edition, this year’s program will be offered as a minor to bachelor students and industry professionals. Joop Bruines, education consultant at CITC and also working at HAN, is happy with the full classroom: “We have a nice mix of people. In addition to industry participants from companies such as NXP and Nexperia, there are eight bachelor students from HAN and similar Dutch universities of applied sciences and from Rhein-Whaal Hochschule in Cleves.” He is also pleased that seven of this year’s participants are female. “That is a first for us. As everyone knows there are too few women in high-tech. We hope that with our program we can contribute to an increase of women in the semicon industry in the future.”

Hybrid format

The program has a hybrid format and as such offers the opportunity to participate when traveling to Nijmegen is not an option. Bruines: “Four students will be following the live stream, so we just went live in the U.S. and in Brazil!”

A printed circuit board serves as an aid at the start of Henk van Zeijl’s lecture

In his introductory speech, Bruines emphasized the importance of chips in everyday life and the need for well-trained people in this field. As a large part of the program takes place on the Novio Tech Campus, its director Bert Krikke gave a brief overview of the campus and the ambition to create an attractive ecosystem for companies in health and high-tech. After his presentation, Henk van Zeijl from TU Delft took over with the first lecture.

Interested in following the next edition of this program? Check out the program information or contact us.