Opportunities to meet and converse with semiconductor industry leaders—or even to dine with a CEO or a Google Engineer—are rare for most students. However, the Semiconductor Industry Seminar (Course No. SEMI111) turns such opportunities into a regular part of the learning experience. Designed for freshmen in their second semester, this course is recognized for its distinctive structure, which is rarely found in other departments or universities. Each week, top executives or senior engineers from companies such as Samsung and Google are invited to deliver guest speeches. Through these sessions, students gain firsthand insights into each company’s founding history, management philosophy, and business strategy, as well as personal life lessons from the speakers.
The greatest feature of this course is that it does not end with just the lecture; it provides various opportunities for students to network with the speaker. Each team, consisting of four students, is assigned to one guest speaker, and the team takes responsibility for organizing the speaker’s session. Weeks before the lecture, the team contacts the speaker to confirm the schedule, conducts background research on the company, and prepares a list of preliminary questions. On the day of the lecture, the students introduce the speaker and assist with the lecture.
After the lecture, team members participate in a dinner meeting with the course professor and the guest speaker. This is an opportunity for students to continue conversations that could not be covered in class, such as asking personal questions and sometimes even gain invitations to visit the company’s facilities or learn about internship opportunities. These occasions provide a rare chance to communicate directly with business leaders, while naturally learning proper business etiquette and communication skills.
The evaluation system follows the same spirit as the course. There are no midterm or final exams; instead, students should submit an individual reflection report. Students are encouraged to summarize what they learned and express how the course has influenced their lives freely. Team performance, participation in organizing and hosting the sessions, and engagement during the dinner meeting all contribute to the final grade. Additionally, the quality of questions during Q&A sessions and the team’s final presentation are also evaluated. Therefore, it is important to approach the course with a genuine desire to learn, instead of just focusing on high grades.
Although this course is listed as a major elective, it has become one of the most popular courses among Department of Semiconductor Engineering (SEMI) students. The more actively students engage, the more they gain practical experience and professional confidence. For many students, the course has served as a powerful motivation before diving into more advanced major courses.
