USM PENANG, 17 August 2023 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and ams-OSRAM recently have successfully organised “School of Physics & ams-OSRAM Industry in Classroom” programme as part of the School of Physics’ MSc Solid State Physics curriculum.

The programme aims to empower students by involvement of guest lecturers from industry focusing on recent developments related to specific optoelectronic devices.

A total of 25 participants engaged in the programme held at the School of Physics, USM. The programme started with an engagement session “Postgraduate Industrial Opportunities with ams-OSRAM” by the Director of Advanced Development and Services ams-OSRAM, Dr. David Lacey at the start of the semester.

Throughout the semester, a series of lectures were provided by ams-OSRAM engineers namely Dr. Fabian Kopp, Dr. Abdelkarim Kahouli and Dr. Azharul Ariff Kamarulzaman. The ams-OSRAM engineers committed to a total of 6 hours lecture slot as part of the Semiconductor Devices course with specific focus on III Nitrides, Epi stack design and optimization, LED chip design and production and UVC LEDs.

The course coordinator, Ts. Dr. Wan Maryam Wan Ahmad Kamil hoped that the students will be able to link the theories discussed throughout the course within industrial settings and hence provide the course with added value to the students.

The Dean of School of Physics, Professor Dr. Abdul Razak Ibrahim is optimistic on the next level of collaboration with ams-OSRAM. In his closing remarks, he said: “This programme is part of a sustainable partnership with ams-OSRAM as we look forward for more programmes similar to this to empower our future graduates.”

“ams-OSRAM has always welcome new talents especially postgraduate participants and as such we open the classes for our research students at Master and PhD level. This initiative gives added value to our MSc. programme and promotes academic excellence. Programmes such as this, helps to build a talent supply needed as Malaysia moves up the value chain in the semiconductor industry,” he added.

David Lacey on the other hand is pleased with the outcome, and said he is looking forward to fostering a sustainable collaboration between ams-OSRAM and the School of Physics.

“The engagement has enabled ams-OSRAM engineers to explain how science is applied in R&D of semiconductor products and why continued study of the fundamentals of semiconductor devices is crucial in maintaining and extending Malaysia’s position in the global semiconductor industry.

“We expect this long-term collaboration with USM will encourage more students to choose careers in the semiconductor industry and also extend the academic and research focus on opto-semiconductors within the Malaysian university network,” said David.