Berlin: Germany is preparing to open its first public vocational school with all instruction in English to train a skilled workforce for a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) fab under construction in Dresden, expected to begin operations in 2027.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Saxony state government and the local Chamber of Industry and Commerce are collaborating on this initiative. Saxony's Minister of Education, Conrad Clemens, revealed details of the project to Handelsblatt, a German-language business newspaper. The vocational school aims to address the anticipated demand for approximately 5,000 technical positions once the fab, which is part of a joint venture named European Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (ESMC), is completed. This venture involves TSMC and three European partners: Robert Bosch GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG, and NXP Semiconductors N.V.
The new vocational school will be a six-story facility equipped with a gymnasium and swimming pool. The European Union is contributing 100 million euros (US$117 million) to the overall budget of 140 million euros, Handelsblatt reported. The fab, TSMC's first in Germany, is poised to become a significant player in Europe's semiconductor industry, with a projected monthly production capacity of 40,000 300-millimeter wafers using advanced process technologies.
Set to open in 2029, the vocational school will offer 1,000 apprenticeship positions annually, focusing on semiconductor-related courses taught in English. Germany's dual model of vocational education combines company internships and school-based learning, with apprentices spending about 70 percent of their time in practical training and 30 percent in academic instruction.
However, there are legal and language challenges to overcome. Current regulations require graduation exams in German vocational schools to be conducted in German. Previous efforts to offer English instruction faced obstacles such as a shortage of qualified teachers and teaching materials. The local Chamber of Industry and Commerce noted that the dominance of German-language operations among smaller local companies adds to the complexity.
To tackle these issues, the Saxony state government is considering bilingual programs in fields like microelectronics engineering. ESMC CEO Christian Koitzsch emphasized the importance of dual vocational training in English to integrate international talent and meet the demands of the global semiconductor market.
A local official expressed optimism, stating that all parties involved are committed to making the project a success. "Anyone who doesn't try doesn't know if it will work," the official said, highlighting the collaborative effort to realize this ambitious plan.