Accomodating the fast-paced evolution of VLSI in engineering curricula

Abstract

The strength of VLSI education has traditionally been its strict synergy with industry. Today, the evolution of the semiconductors industry, especially in its quest for low-power awareness, requires today a strong synergy between system and physical issues. As a consequence, VLSI design courses may need to increase their focus on system-related issues and the exploration of the impact if physical design on power versus performance tradeoffs. This will represent an exciting opportunity as professional figures such as system architects and embedded software programmers will be more interested in exposure to VLSI concepts. To meet the requirements of a new, and possibly more numerous generation of students, VLSI education also may need to renew its design lab offering, exploiting new practices and communication means that already are common practice in the students population and standardized in industry.