The limits of the digitalization of the training of engineers and masters in microelectronics

In an increasingly digitalized technological environment, in a temporary context of pandemic and in a strategy of governments to minimize the costs of student training, the ministries of higher education are increasingly organizing the digitalization of all training in the hope of reducing the operating and salary costs of higher education institutions. While for some disciplines this objective may be tolerable, in the training of engineering degrees, it appears dangerous in terms of its effect on the competence and quality of the students. They will have to face many technological and societal challenges and will therefore be expected to have in-depth knowledge and know-how. This article highlights the skills needed to meet the various current challenges, the forecasts for the development of tools for generalized training in digital form, and the limitations of this approach on the actual skills and know-how of the students and users trained. Coordination with the French national network of higher education in microelectronics is a way to evaluate the effectiveness of digital tools in the acquisition of know-how.