176 USM STUDENTS RECEIVE MICRON SAT-PRO CERTIFICATES, STRENGTHENING THE NATION'S SEMICONDUCTOR TALENT PIPELINE

NIBONG TEBAL, 3 July 2026 - A total of 176 Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) students were recognised at the Micron Modules Completion Certificate Ceremony 2026 after successfully completing the Semiconductor Package Assembly & Test (SAT-Pro) modules, implemented through a strategic collaboration between USM and Micron Memory Malaysia.

Micron Memory Malaysia Vice President, Ramu Iyer, said the semiconductor industry has become a key driver of technological advancement in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs), data centres and the digital economy, leading to a growing demand for highly skilled talent.

He said Malaysia is well positioned to move further up the semiconductor value chain through advanced semiconductor packaging, integrated circuit (IC) design and smart manufacturing, in line with the aspirations of the National Semiconductor Strategy, which aims to develop 60,000 highly skilled semiconductor professionals by 2030.

He explained that the SAT-Pro programme was developed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industrial applications by providing students with relevant technical knowledge and industry exposure.

He also reaffirmed Micron Memory Malaysia's commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with USM in developing local semiconductor talent and expanding the nation's talent pipeline to meet the growing needs of the high-technology industry.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor Dr. Abdullah Aziz Saad, representing the Director of the USM Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus, said the ceremony recognised students who had successfully completed the SAT-Pro modules embedded in the elective courses EBB324 Electronic Packaging and EEE380 Semiconductor Device Packaging.

He said the certificate recipients comprised 66 students from the School of Mechanical Engineering, 55 students from the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, and 55 students from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

"The participation of engineering students reflects the multidisciplinary nature of today's engineering education while demonstrating the continued commitment of both academia and industry to producing highly skilled talent to support the growth of Malaysia's semiconductor industry," he said.

According to him, initiatives such as SAT-Pro demonstrate how close collaboration between universities and industry can enrich students' learning experiences by integrating industrial perspectives into the academic curriculum.

"In addition to enhancing technical competencies, the programme also nurtures critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and adaptability, qualities that are increasingly valued by employers today," he added.

Text: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Photo: Muhammad Taufik Abdul Rahman