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Altium, a global leader in software and solutions for the electronics industry, announced the successful completion of the first Mayan-on-Chip cohort through Altium Education. Mayan-on-Chip is a regional initiative designed to develop highly specialized semiconductor and electronics design talent in Yucatán, Mexico. Altium Education joined academic, government, and industry leaders to celebrate.
Led by the Autonomous University of Yucatán (Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, UADY) in collaboration with local governments of the Secretaría de Economía y Trabajo de Yucatán (SETY), and the Sistema Nacional de Empleo Yucatán (SNEY), the program provided advanced training in Verilog HDL (hardware description language), SystemVerilog for Design and Verification, VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integration) design principles, ATP (Assembly, Testing, and Packaging) capabilities, and PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design and simulation using Altium solutions.
Development for the initiative began in January 2024, with the first implementation taking place during the Fall 2025 semester (July–December). The program received 150 applications for an initial 60 spots. Ultimately, 90 students were accepted into the cohort, and 72 successfully completed all four courses and certification requirements.
The closing ceremony, held at the Faculty of Engineering at UADY, recognized undergraduate students, graduate students, and engineering graduates from southeastern Mexico who successfully completed the program and earned official recognitions and certifications endorsed by Altium, SETY, SNEY, and independent semiconductor corporation ALTERA.
The initiative reflects a growing effort across academia, government, and industry to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem in Mexico by building practical, industry-relevant engineering skills aligned with emerging workforce demands.
“As the semiconductor industry continues to evolve globally, initiatives like Mayan-on-Chip play an important role in creating opportunities for students and emerging engineers to gain hands-on experience with modern design technologies and workflows,” said Rea Callender, VP of Education and Training at Altium. “We are proud to support programs that help connect education with real-world engineering innovation.”
The event featured remarks from representatives of UADY, SETY, CANIETI (National Chamber of the Electronics, Telecommunications, and Information Technologies Industry), the National Employment Service, ALTERA, and Altium, alongside a formal recognition ceremony honoring the inaugural cohort.
Through Altium Education, Altium continues collaborating with universities, educators, governments, and industry organizations worldwide to help expand access to professional-grade PCB design tools, engineering training, and workforce development opportunities that prepare students for careers in electronics and advanced technology industries.
