Engineering education for the semiconductor economy
Preparing engineers for the global semiconductor workforce
BY Chris Cook, U of I Executive Director of Admissions and Recruitment & Feng Li, Micron Endowed Professor in Microelectronics and NGeM Director
June 15, 2026
Semiconductors are no longer a niche corner of the tech economy. They are essential infrastructure. Microchips made from semiconductor materials power artificial intelligence, national defense systems, advanced manufacturing, transportation networks, energy grids and nearly every modern supply chain.
Around the world, countries are investing billions to expand chip manufacturing, secure supply chains and modernize technology infrastructure. Yet every new fabrication facility, research lab and packaging center faces the same constraint: a shortage of engineers who understand the full semiconductor ecosystem. And this semiconductor workforce shortage isn’t just a national challenge — it’s a global one.
This is where universities must step in.
Preparing engineers for the semiconductor workforce means teaching more than device physics or circuit design. It requires helping students understand how design, fabrication, packaging, logistics and policy intersect across international markets. A workforce development strategy for the semiconductor industry should create value at four levels:
- For students: Clear pathways into high-growth, high-wage careers with hands-on experience in microelectronics and advanced manufacturing, delivered at a cost that keeps opportunity within reach.
- For employers: Graduates who understand how modern fabrication and design systems work together, and who can contribute immediately inside globally connected engineering teams.
- For Idaho and the United States: A reliable talent pipeline that strengthens economic resilience, supports partners across Idaho’s semiconductor and advanced-technology ecosystem, including Micron and Idaho National Laboratory, and positions communities to compete in critical technology sectors.
- For the world: A stronger, more diverse pipeline of engineers helps stabilize supply chains, accelerate innovation and reduce bottlenecks that affect industries everywhere.
Universities that do not connect classroom learning to manufacturing environments, supply chain operations and industry partnerships risk graduating students who are prepared for yesterday's challenges rather than tomorrow's opportunities.
Workforce gap programs like the Microchip Engineering & Security Alliance (MESA) between University of Idaho and Hiroshima University go out of their way to incorporate this holistic knowledge into their classes.
Through industry-aligned engineering programs and globally informed partnerships, University of Idaho and Hiroshima University students learn how semiconductor innovation connects to manufacturing, energy, agriculture, defense and supply chains across the Inland Northwest and beyond.
The goal isn't simply to expose students to the industry. It's to align their education with the industry's evolving needs. Students graduate prepared to step into real roles in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry; roles that support Idaho employers and national efforts to expand semiconductor manufacturing, strengthen supply chains and advance technology innovation.
Programs like MESA show how a land-grant university in Idaho can play a meaningful role in contributing to global workforce solutions. By combining affordable access, industry partnerships and international awareness, University of Idaho is helping prepare engineers who can design, build and sustain the technology infrastructure the world depends on.