There is an urgent global and national shortage of skilled semiconductor professionals, underscoring a critical need to cultivate chip-design expertise among young learners. The CYCORE project is a government-supported youth semiconductor education initiative aimed at strengthening this early-stage talent pipeline. In this study, the CYCORE curriculum—spanning the full chip design process from basic electronics to simplified CPU design—is analyzed, and classroom implementation case studies are presented. A structured I/E/C/K/S questionnaire (measuring student Interest, Engagement, Creativity, Knowledge, and Skills) is used to evaluate student outcomes. Results indicate that CYCORE’s hands-on, project-based modules substantially boost student engagement and interest in chip technology and foster early innovation capabilities. Students reported high satisfaction and demonstrated improvements in applied knowledge, creative problem-solving skills, and confidence through hands-on design challenges. These findings suggest that targeted semiconductor education can effectively contribute to the STEM talent pipeline.
Deloitte, 2024, The Global Semiconductor Talent Shortage. Accessed on June 17, 2025. https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/technology/articles/global-semiconductor-talent-shortage.html
Aktamis H, Bulut Ates C, 2024, Investigating the Effects of Creative Educational Modules Blended with Cognitive Research Trust (CORT) Techniques and Problem-based Learning (PBL) on Students’ Scientific Creativity Skills and Perceptions in Science Education. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 2024(51): 101471.
Liston M, 2023, STEM Education Outreach involving School-industry-university Partnerships for Scalable and Sustainable Impact. Connected Science Learning, 5(3): 11.
Miller K, Sonnert G, Sadler P, 2017, The Influence of Students’ Participation in STEM Competitions on Their Interest in STEM Careers. International Journal of Science Education, Part B, 8(2): 95–114.
HireChina, 2025, The Global Semiconductor Talent Shortage. Accessed on June 17, 2025. https://www.hiredchina.com/articles/semiconductor-talent-hunt-in-chinas-semiconductor-industry
Smith J, 2025, Future insights on AI. Journal of AI Research, preprint.