GUEST

Why you should care about semiconductor industry. 5 things Ohio colleges must do| Opinion

Ayanna Howard
Guest columnist

Ayanna Howard, PhD, is dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering and the Monte Ahuja Endowed Dean's Chair.

Whether you’re following the announcement of Intel’s $20 billion investment in Ohio or the just signed $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act designed to boost U.S. semiconductor competition, you might be wondering why there’s so much conversation around semiconductors.

More:Biden signs $280B CHIPS Act: 'America is back'

From pacemakers to planes, semiconductors power almost everything that we see, hear, and touch and they’ve mostly been produced overseas. So, what does the buzz around the semiconductor industry have to do with workforce development?

More:Semiconductor factory: What are computer chips, and why are they so important?

Worker in a clean room suit examines a silicon semiconductor wafer.

The short answer is – we’re facing a rising demand for semiconductors and a global chip shortage crisis.

Unless we bring more talent to the semiconductor industry, the resulting talent gap will lead to a U.S. crisis of another sort — one that will be difficult to overcome.

But just pointing out that we’ll require tens of thousands of highly skilled workers doesn’t fully explain the challenge (or opportunity, for that matter). According to a recent report, each person employed in the semiconductor industry requires 5.7 other occupational jobs.

Two of the most critical questions that remain are, “Who will be included in the technological and economic growth opportunities that are prompted by investments in the U.S. semiconductor industry?” and, “How can we ensure a sufficient workforce pipeline is created that is diverse and inclusive across the U.S.?”

A lab worker evaluates a semiconductor chip.

More:College president: Intel deal could be 'big freakin’ deal' for region's adult learners

What could this mean for Ohio? 

In addition to policy makers, colleges and universities in Ohio and beyond are key conduits to providing answers. As a roboticist, entrepreneur, educator, and dean of the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University, not only do I believe institutions of higher education must be integrally involved in the solution, we must do so in partnership with each other and local, regional, state-wide and nation-wide industries.

These universal partnerships not only ensure that we’re aligned with the needs of companies and prepare students for today and tomorrow's workforce, but they also provide students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in industries they might not have been aware were accessible to them.

Ayanna Howard, PhD, is dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering and the Monte Ahuja Endowed Dean's Chair.

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In essence, here's how higher education institutions should respond to the opportunity for an essential workforce and the specific skills needed to support the broader and growing semiconductor ecosystem in the U.S.:

Join forces

Work collaboratively across universities, colleges, government, local community-based agencies, advocacy groups and industry partners to share the importance of the semiconductor industry and expose students (current and future) in understanding what it means to work in this field.

From factory operators to engineers, the average annual pay for the Intel plant in Ohio is anticipated to be $135,000. And one in five workers in the U.S. semiconductor industry is a blue-collar worker, providing opportunities for all American to earn middle-class wages.

Incorporate diverse learners 

Build and extend curriculum that is accessible to diverse learners, regardless of discipline, and expose them to the semiconductor industry. Beyond engineering and technical jobs are those in business and financial operations and arts and design.

Engage students 

Ensure that students have hands-on learning experiences. Higher education institutions need to be open and ready to partner with industry leaders in order to develop experiential learning opportunities. It is important that individual entities are not working in a local silo, but rather are engaging at a regional and national level.

Draw in more people

Commit to expanding who is included. The reality is now is the moment that we decide who will be included in this growing semiconductor industry. Our beliefs on who can be engineers and technicians generally and in the semiconductor industry, specifically, will influence and shape who we recruit, educate, and who ultimately is hired for these roles.

Invest 

Continue to invest in research. While we must be focused on meeting today’s workforce needs, colleges and universities still must partner with industry to advance the next era of technologies needed to expand capacity and sustainability of semiconductor production. 

More:Intel to invest combined $100 million in Ohio, U.S. for semiconductor education program

All organizations should learn more about the semiconductor industry and strategically think about how their organization fits into the broader ecosystem. We must all be engaged in our mission of contributing to the social and economic development of our communities.

Now is the time to act.

Ayanna Howard, PhD, is dean of The Ohio State University College of Engineering and the Monte Ahuja Endowed Dean's Chair.