University of Magdeburg develops qualification modules for microtechnology

The University of Magdeburg is now a member of the Microtec Academy (Photo: Hannah Theile/University of Magdeburg)

The Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg has been accepted as a member of the Microtec Academy and is thus now an official location of this federally funded, cross-regional, and cross-company vocational training academy for micro- and nanotechnologies in Saxony-Anhalt. The university will participate in developing new, contemporary personnel development modules in micro- and nanotechnologies within this framework.

With the resumption of training for microtechnologists, the new degree programs Advanced Semiconductor Nanotechnologies, Computational Methods in Engineering, and AI Engineering, which started in the winter semester 2023/24, as well as a planned doctoral program, tailored educational offerings will soon be available on the university campus for all levels. Skilled workers, specifically trained technical staff, managers, but also career changers can then pursue further education in a needs-based and modular manner.

The close cooperation with the Microtec Academy is part of a comprehensive concept by the University of Magdeburg to build a talent pipeline for the semiconductor industry, according to university director Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Strackeljan. "In addition to training and further education of urgently needed technical and managerial staff, this also aims to attract international students and doctoral candidates, establish a robust network of partners from science, industry, and politics, and set up joint endowed professorships."

The core of this talent pipeline, as well as the collaboration with the Microtec Academy, is the university's cleanroom, the rector further explains. "With the reactivation of our cleanroom, we have an excellent level of equipment that allows us to undertake this step of a comprehensive training concept and to offer the cleanroom as a core facility for shared research and training infrastructure to other partners in the future."

The new and permeable training approach also offers the best conditions for trainees at the University of Magdeburg, says Jörg Vierhaus, head of the university's cleanroom. "By linking the trainees' thesis work with master's and doctoral theses of students, both training paths—the dual and the academic—can benefit from each other," Vierhaus continues. "The trainees receive topics from current research for their theses, and the students receive extensive technical support for their dissertations and master's theses." This early and integrated teamwork, which is so important in chip manufacturing, is established already during training.

"The University of Magdeburg is a great enrichment for the Microtec Academy both academically and in terms of personnel, and with the emerging Intel site, it gains even more significance," explains Oliver Knebusch, project manager at the Microtec Academy.

The joint strength of the Microtec Academy and the University of Magdeburg is based on nationwide networking with various actors, large companies, SMEs, research institutes, and organizations such as chambers of commerce, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, or the Federal Ministry of Education, Knebusch further explains. "In the Microtec Academy, we connect the strengths, know-how, and equipment of different partners at various locations and their expertise across a wide range of topics, making various technologies, laboratories, and cleanroom facilities accessible for personnel development in micro- and nanotechnology in Germany."

The first joint seminar of the University of Magdeburg and the Microtec Academy will take place from March 11 to 15, 2024, titled "Introduction to Manufacturing and Process Technologies in Semiconductor Technology," aimed at aspiring and already practicing technical and managerial staff.