SIA ISSUE BACKGROUNDERS

WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Issue: Improving math and science education for America's students and teachers is critical for the United States to maintain global technological leadership. The SIA supports workforce and education programs that inspire and attract students to the semiconductor industry.

Importance: The long-term semiconductor industry outlook indicates a need for thousands of engineers in the next decade and beyond to continue the technology advances that benefit consumers around the world. However, while the demand for engineers is expected to remain strong, the pipeline of future engineers is not keeping pace. According to Engineering Workforce Council statistics, the number of all undergraduate engineering degrees began to decline steadily in the mid-1980s. By the late 1990s, the statistics began to improve, but not enough to meet the increasing demand for skilled talent. The growth in the number of graduating electrical engineers is very small, from 12,929 in 2001 to 13,343 in 2002. According to Engineering Workforce Council statistics, the number of all undergraduate engineering degrees began to decline steadily in the mid-1980s. By the late 1990s, the statistics began to improve, but not enough to meet the increasing demand for skilled talent. The growth in the number of graduating electrical engineers is very small, from 12,929 in 2001 to 13,343 in 2002.

The shortage in engineering students is due in great measure to a pattern of waning interest and performance among U.S. elementary and secondary school students. There is a critical need to spark students' interest and achievement in math, science and engineering-related coursework.

SIA Position/Action: The SIA and its member companies have pledged millions of dollars over the past several years to programs that target K-12, community colleges, undergraduate, and graduate students.

SIA plays an active, leadership role in national initiatives in four broad areas:

• National Science Foundation Corporate and Foundation Alliance

  SIA participates in this important NSF alliance of U.S. technology companies, philanthropic foundations and government agencies. The Alliance supports programs to improve undergraduate science, technology, engineering and math education. The group is currently pursuing ways to maximize the benefits of the "No Child Left Behind" legislation to ensure elementary and secondary school students stay enrolled in math and science, and ultimately seek careers using those critical skills.

• Pursuing Semiconductor Research with Engineering Undergraduates

  SIA has now entered the third year of its three-year partnership with the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) to increase the number of undergraduate students who choose semiconductor careers. Programs include:

  • Undergraduate Research Assistants

    Undergraduates can readily see the importance of their class work by assisting professors on SRC sponsored research. Student program participation included 106 students over a three-year period.

  • MOSIS

    MOSIS, or Metal Oxide Semiconductor Implementation Service, provides university students with the opportunity to fabricate and package integrated circuits that they have created in chip design courses. The program offers real-life experience and motivation for student engineers.

  SIA continues to partner with SRC in cultivating new semiconductor talent. The SRC has submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to fund ongoing research experience for undergraduates. SIA will continue to leverage in-kind support by encouraging member companies to hire the research students for summer internships. The real-world work experience provided in such internships helps encourage the students to pursue semiconductor careers upon graduation.

• Staying Sharp with Cutting-Edge Manufacturing Trends

  The SIA maintains a strong partnership with the Maricopa Advanced Technology Education Center (MATEC). MATEC, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides curriculum and faculty training and development for semiconductor manufacturing programs at nearly 100 two- and four-year institutions. SIA serves on the MATEC Advisory Board, and sponsors MATEC's annual conference for education and business partners.

• Influencing Bright Minds Early

  To induce more students to pursue undergraduate engineering degrees, they must be influenced positively at an early age, while there is ample time to choose preparatory math, science and other technology courses. SIA has strong roots in programs at the K-12 level that motivate and inspire young students -- particularly under-represented minorities and girls -- to explore these critical subjects.

  To highlight the best education practices of semiconductor companies, SIA offers a comprehensive K-12 Catalog that is updated annually and may be downloaded from the SIA website by clicking HERE.

  In 2003, SIA partnered with its sister organization, Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturing International (SEMI), to sponsor a Workforce Development Institute for teachers. The popular, two-day Institute is an educational camp for high school teachers to learn math and science experiments and teaching techniques that apply to the semiconductor industry. SIA-member companies contributed sponsorships to ensure good representation by roughly 30 teachers in local school districts where the companies do business.
  
  SIA is an ongoing sponsor of SECME, a strategic alliance to strengthen the capacity of K-12 educators to motivate and mentor students and empower parents. SECME focuses on increasing the pool of historically under-represented students who will enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. SECME's 2003 Summer Institute provided more than 600 K-12 educators with a development program at Tennessee State University in Nashville.