NYCU Partners with VIS to Launch Digital Semiconductor Course: Advancing Educational Equity and Providing Quality Resources for Remote and Offshore High Schools
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) has joined forces with Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation (VIS) to create the “Introduction to Semiconductor Principles and Manufacturing” digital learning course for high school students. The digital course helps bridge the gap in the educational resources between urban and rural areas, providing valuable teaching support for remote and offshore high schools. Launched in the 2024 academic year, the course has already been adopted by 44 high schools as part of their elective curricula, with enrollment surpassing 1,000 students.
NYCU’s Digital Course Empowers Remote High Schools in Semiconductor Education
Ken-Zen Chen, Deputy Director of NYCU’s Higher Education Resources for Openness (HERO) Research Center, highlighted that urban high schools, with abundant resources and proximity to universities, often find it easier to offer diverse electives. In contrast, remote and offshore schools face significant challenges in tailoring elective courses to student needs.
To bridge this gap, NYCU developed a comprehensive digital course covering quantum theory concepts, the properties of semiconductor materials, the operating principles of semiconductor devices, integrated circuit manufacturing technologies, semiconductor factory management, and an overview of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry. The two-credit course is designed as an accessible introduction to these advanced topics.
The course package includes teaching videos delivered by university professors and industry experts, complete lecture notes, and a recommended teaching schedule, making it easy for high school teachers lacking industry resources to offer the course independently.
NYCU has also made the course available on the “ewant” Open Education Platform, which NYCU established in 2013 as a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform and has actively promoted; it is Taiwan’s largest and most prominent MOOC platform, enabling teachers to manage their courses autonomously.
Since its debut this academic year, the course has been adopted by 44 high schools nationwide, with more than 1,000 students enrolling. National Matsu Senior High School was among the first to integrate the curriculum.
NYCU Support Spurs Academic Excellence at Matsu Senior High School
According to Professor Wei-I Lee, a senior research fellow at the HERO Research Center, learning analytics from the ewant platform revealed that National Matsu Senior High School students demonstrated exceptional dedication. Face-to-face interactions further confirmed their impressive learning outcomes. This success underscores the potential of providing ample teaching resources to offshore schools, enabling outstanding academic achievements.
Ting Tseng, the Director of Academic Affairs at National Matsu Senior High School, expressed that access to high-quality educational support from a top-tier university had been rare. The course marked their first elective of this nature, with students praising the engaging, well-crafted content and the humorous delivery of the instructors.
One student noted that watching the video lessons on a tablet and self-paced learning, with teachers available for guidance, enhanced learning efficiency. The course’s high-quality videos, which could be rewatched as needed, sparked a strong interest in semiconductors. “It completely piqued our interest in semiconductors!” the student shared.
The successful implementation of this course has enabled students in Matsu and similar regions to gain exposure to advanced semiconductor knowledge, laying a solid foundation for their futures. This initiative embodies the core value of “educational equity” within the University Social Responsibility (USR). Through this innovative teaching model, NYCU has reduced the educational resource gap between urban and rural areas and ignited students’ passion for technology, unleashing their potential. These efforts reflect the university’s commitment to social responsibility, democratizing knowledge, and ensuring every student can ride the wave of technological advancement.
