How to make the study of microelectronics more attractive

The microelectronics education system is under strong pressure to change. Its infrastructure must reflect the dynamic technological changes connected with the increasing complexity of integrated circuits and microsystems. To maintain the innovative force of microelectronics in the future, highly qualified experts with a multidisciplinary background and experimental skills must be educated [1]. The microelectronics education is generally considered to be a difficult study programme. Implementation of advanced simulators for the process, device, circuits and system level design allows a unique insight into the structure operation, thus contributes to overcome the inadequate interest of students in microelectronics. Intensive collaboration and dissemination of courses and modules based on CAL (Computer Aided Learning) tools through the Internet/WWW environment is of great importance not only for inter-university collaboration but also for time and cost-effective retraining and lifelong learning of engineers and technicians from industry.