Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a semiconductor design innovator, has joined forces with Abu Dhabi Education Council to launch a programme to equip the emirate's students with advanced technology skills.

The programme is aimed at helping university students gain the experience necessary to kick start a career in advanced technology, said a Adec statement.

The agreement demonstrates AMD and ADEC’s commitment to the educational development of Emirati students in higher education, thus promoting the growth and global prosperity of the semiconductor industry planned for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

'This deal further demonstrates our goal of transforming Abu Dhabi into a diversified, innovation-based, knowledge-producing society in line with 'Economic Vision for Abu Dhabi 2030” said Dr Mugheer Khamis Al-Khaili, the director general of Adec.

“AMD is recognised as a world leader in the semiconductor industry and the experience our students will gain from this programme is priceless and necessary to achieve the goals we set for ourselves when embarked on this initiative a few years ago,” he noted.

Thomas Seifert, CFO and Interim CEO at AMD, said 'Abu Dhabi is rapidly becoming an important region in the semiconductor industry and the goal of this programme is to equip students with the vital skills to pursue a technology career.'

“We look forward to sharing our experience and knowledge with the technology leaders of the future and to working closely with ADEC in developing Emirati talent and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and expertise.”

The programme will include an AMD internship program, a student mentor program, fact finding visits to AMD R&D centers, semiconductor seminar support and university curriculum support.

As per the agreement, AMD will offer paid internships to qualified Emirati students who are undergraduate engineering students in their third or fourth year of study, said Seifert.

Each internship will coincide with a semester of education during one of the Fall, Spring or Summer semester terms. The internships will occur at AMD sites located in Canada, China, Germany, India, Singapore, Taiwan and US.

AMD will also host fact-finding trips to its research and development facilities around the world for Abu Dhabi employees involved with this program and/or Emirati undergraduate students in their first or second year of university study, Seifert noted.

The aim is to introduce these students and employees to the semiconductor industry and/or research and development ecosystems. On an annual basis, ADEC and AMD anticipate up to 3 fact-finding trips to AMD sites around the world, Seifert added.

The student mentor program will provide incremental professional guidance and support to highly-accomplished Emirati university students, and assist them in their pursuit of careers or research interest to advance the Abu-Dhabi advanced technology industry.
-TradeArabia News Service