Cross-border semiconductor collaborations translate success

Opportunities in ASU-Mexico partnership equip talent for North American microelectronics jobs

One country can’t accomplish it all when it comes to the semiconductor or microelectronics sector. While Arizona is a rapidly expanding hub for revitalizing the industry in the United States, Arizona State University is working with partners in Mexico to help achieve strategic goals for diversifying the North American semiconductor supply chain.

Soon after the CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law in 2022, ASU Mexico Relations began work to establish an institutional partnership with Mexico. Later that same year, ASU and the Embassy of Mexico in the United States signed a memorandum of understanding to promote workforce development, education and collaboration between ASU and Mexican institutions working in the semiconductor industry.

“I’m thrilled about the collaboration we’re having between Arizona State University and the Mexican Embassy in the USA,” said Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán in a video statement about the latest developments of the work. “This is our first step of a very, very important partnership and coalition between Arizona State University and the most important academic and governmental agencies in Mexico to build a resilient supply chain of semiconductors.”

The partnership has already yielded opportunities to build the talent pipeline in Mexico, including a language course for technical English needed in semiconductor industry companies and two train-the-trainer workshops supported by Global Outreach and Extended Education in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU.

“ASU has been privileged to work closely with Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán,” says ASU President Michael Crow. “His background as a former secretary of education and his broad expertise has helped our joint semiconductor education initiatives reach thousands of learners throughout Mexico, and there is much more we can do together.”

Now, ASU is supporting the development of a second course focused on microelectronics and nanoelectronics. In addition, ASU is participating in wider international collaborations supported by CHIPS Act funding to further build semiconductor supply chain resilience and workforce development.

ASU’s efforts are well-timed to help people build the necessary skills while the U.S. and Mexico build up their semiconductor industry infrastructure. The Semiconductor Industry Association forecasts a workforce shortage that can be bridged by these efforts and economically benefit people and businesses on both sides of the border.

James O’Brien, ASU senior vice president of university affairs; Paola Hidalgo, executive director of Mexico relations in the ASU Office of Government and Community Engagement; and Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, the honorable ambassador of Mexico to the U.S., celebrate the success of the memorandum of understanding between ASU and the embassy and plan next steps. Photo courtesy of Paola Hidalgo

Expanding economic opportunities with English

No matter where in the world semiconductor operations take place, English is the standard language for trade and science, making it a crucial skill for anyone interested in working in the field.

English for the Semiconductor Industry, commissioned by ASU Mexico Relations and developed by ASU Global Launch, helps non-native English speakers build this essential skill.

The self-paced online course includes an introduction to semiconductor terminology as well as seven modules based on different career interests: design, manufacturing, equipment, safety, supply chain, human resources and finance. Participants can choose to take whichever modules align with their goals.

Each module includes vocabulary; pronunciation; reading, writing and listening exercises; quizzes and practice activities; and communication and job application strategies.

In the nine months since its launch in October 2023, access to the course has expanded to all 31 Mexican states and Mexico City. Implementation by partnerships with the National Technological Institute of Mexico, University of Guadalajara and Autonomous University of Baja California has enrolled more than 10,000 people, representing students, industry professionals and the general public interested in upskilling or reskilling opportunities. The partners in Mexico have created their own massive open online courses to serve their communities and additional partners.

So far, 3,300 participants have completed at least one module, and 2,200 have completed the entire course, showing that people are motivated to get educated and find jobs in the industry.

“The course has been a transformative experience for my understanding and skills in the field,” says Arantxa Villasana, a student in the Institute of Engineering, Master Program at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. “In addition to strengthening my grasp of the English language, I improved my pronunciation and understanding of words used in this area. This course not only deepened my technical knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing but also offered valuable insights into management and administration in this critical area.”

More than 350 professionals from electronics manufacturer Skyworks, which has automotive electronics facilities in Mexicali, have taken course modules.

“My experience in the semiconductor course was very enjoyable. I learned new words and more technical concepts of the industry,” says Fernanda Cecilia Herrera, senior financial analyst for Skyworks. “My favorite part was that I was able to relate what the course was showing us with what we actually do at Skyworks, and that made it easier for me to learn the theory.”

Crow says he is excited for the course to help more people engage with and be successful in the rapidly expanding semiconductor industry in North America. He encourages everyone interested to get involved in this opportunity to drive economic growth and employment through new technologies and opportunities in the United States and Mexico.

ASU is working to continue expanding the course offerings in Mexico. Complementary learning opportunities are also in development to further increase available talent to help meet workforce needs over the next decade.

“A robust semiconductor sector in the Arizona and Mexico corridor means increased economic opportunities for the decades to come,” says Paola Hidalgo, executive director of ASU Mexico Relations. “That’s why ASU and its partners aim to double participation over the next year on this and other courses, bring on additional partners across Mexico, continue to disseminate relevant materials and share best practices to take part of the historic opportunities presented to all of us.”

Diplomatic, business and higher education representatives from the U.S. and Mexico met at the June 2024 Semiconductor Collaboration Forum in Tijuana, Mexico, to discuss regional opportunities in microelectronics. Global Outreach and Extended Education in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU is leading international collaborations with Mexico and other countries to train educators and create workforce development opportunities to strengthen U.S. semiconductor resilience. Photo courtesy of Melissa Stine

Cross-border educational collaboration 

Global Outreach and Extended Education, or GOEE, contributed to further efforts supporting educational advances to prepare the future semiconductor industry workforce in North America.

GOEE’s takeaways from work in 2023 to train educators from across Mexico have led to wider collaborative opportunities with Mexico funded by the U.S. Department of State.

ASU was selected for a two-year, $13.8 million program supported by the International Technology Security and Innovation Fund, or ISTI Fund, created by the CHIPS Act. The program engages governments, semiconductor companies and other key stakeholders to strengthen semiconductor industry resilience in collaboration with partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region and the Americas, including Mexico.

“Last year’s train-the-trainer program in Mexico, funded by the Arizona-Mexico Commission, provided us with invaluable insights into the needs and challenges of developing a skilled semiconductor workforce in North America,” says Jose Quiroga, director of global development at Global Outreach and Extended Education. “These lessons have directly influenced the design of the ITSI Semiconductor Faculty Certification program, which is a cornerstone of the broader ITSI Funds project. This program is essential for diversifying semiconductor supply chains and ensuring the resilience of the industry across the Americas and the Indo-Pacific region.”

As part of the program, Fulton Schools faculty members Terry Alford, Christopher Bailey and Hongbin Yu will provide in-country training and semiconductor courses for a faculty certification program and a semiconductor assembly, test and packaging workforce accelerator learning portal.

The accelerator portal facilitates upskilling and reskilling opportunities through courses, certificates, fellowships, scholarships and other funding opportunities, as well as speaker series from industry experts, policy think tanks, academic partners, non-governmental organizations and government agencies.

GOEE is currently working with Costa Rica, Vietnam and the Philippines as part of the ITSI initiative to diversify semiconductor supply chains and will begin work with Mexico, Panama and Indonesia in 2025.

As the microelectronics industry continues to expand in North America, cross-border collaborations will remain an important and mutually beneficial component of materializing the goals of the CHIPS Act.

Jay Thorne contributed to this story.