The chips are high

Four universities in the UAE will receive the latest technology in design automation tools through a University Partnership Agreement signed with Dubai Silicon Oasis and Synopsys Inc.

The former is a Dubai-based technology park for microelectronics and semiconductors, while Synopsys is a US-based corporation leading in Electronic Design Automation (EDA).

The agreement means that electrical and computer engineering students in UAE University (UAEU), University of Sharjah (UoS), Etisalat University College (EUC) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) will be able to use the latest software for the design, simulation and verification of integrated circuit (IC) chips.

Using this technology will benefit students in several ways. Dr Rana Ahmad, associate professor and Chair of Computer Engineering at AUS, said: "These tools are used by all the major industry players and very expensive. So students gain this kind of experience while in college."

Dr Assim Sagahyroon, his colleague agreed. He said the tools were state-of-the-art and worth millions of dollars.

"We will be able to teach undergraduate students the whole process of integrated circuit making: from design to verification, down to the physical layer," he said.

In addition to increasing students' job opportunities, the use of this software also opens up research possibilities for them, as the curriculum of the engineering schools at these four academic institutions will receive a boost.

Dr Sagahyroon said: "Through this technology, we can always train engineers who have graduated."

Dr Mohammad Al Zarouni, Director General, DSO, said it was important to bridge the gap between the industry and universities.

"We are identifying and addressing the mechanisms needed to groom highly-experienced and talented trained graduates from this region to fill the manpower gap in the areas of semi-conductors and IC chip design. This is just the first step in a long-term academic association and partnership with Synopsys," he added.

Rich Goldman, Vice President, Strategic Market Development, Synopsys, Inc., said: "Synopsys has developed our university programme to provide academic institutions with world-class EDA tools that help students prepare to tackle the most advanced real-world designs."

Further, according to Dr Eisa Bastaki, Director, Technology and Development, DSO, the use of EDA tools, provided at no cost to the academic institutions, is the first of its kind in the UAE and is part of an ongoing plan targeting many other higher educational institutions.

"The tools deployed to these academic institutions are the same as those used by IC chip design engineers in the semi-conductor industry. Certainly this would ensure the proper industry-like exposure and training of students," said Dr Bastaki.

He also noted that DSO would be instrumental in developing and polishing the university programmes related to electronics and engineering studies.

Abiya Ahmad/Writer is a mass communications student and editor of the university newspaper
at the American University of Sharjah