YEREVAN, Armenia, October 12, 2011 -- Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS), a world leader in software and IP used in the design, verification and manufacture of electronic components and systems, today announced the official opening of a new state-of-the-art building for Synopsys’ Armenia Educational Department (SAED).
Synopsys continues to commit to the economic prosperity of Armenia through its investment in the industry-university model which encourages partnership between the private and public sectors.
“The industry-university educational model implemented by Synopsys is one of the models of the future and provides the best technological education for our youth,” said Armen Ashotyan, Armenia minister of education and science.
The new home for SAED combines a modern technical infrastructure with an educational environment that provides at one site all the necessary resources for teaching and academic research. It offers five state-of-the-classrooms, each fully equipped with desktop PCs, projection equipment and whiteboards. Each classroom has capacity for 25 students. Each student has his or her own PC with access to Synopsys’ best-in-class suite of EDA tools. Additional amenities to encourage learning and sharing include a comprehensive technical library with engineering-related publications and a modern cafeteria with kitchen equipment for student use.
The new SAED facility was created to support all the components that encourage a superior learning environment: a comprehensive curriculum, adopted by prestigious universities in-country and worldwide; Synopsys’ state-of-the-art, industry-leading electronic design automation software and Educational Design Kits; and highly-qualified, experienced faculty to provide students with a world-class education.
The new SAED building will host Student Working Groups involved in engineering projects and in the development of Educational Design Kits. The site is also the new home of the Microelectronic Circuits and Systems Interfaculty Chair at the State Engineering University of Armenia, part of SAED.
“Dedicated on SAED’s 10th anniversary, this new building will provide ongoing benefits to Synopsys Armenia students,” said Dr. Chi-Foon Chan, president and chief operating officer at Synopsys. “We continuously support and invest in the education program in Armenia. This modern educational environment will help enable engineering students to receive hands-on experience with Synopsys’ industry-leading commercial tools so they can enter the workforce with the necessary skills to quickly contribute to the fast-paced world of high-technology.”
“The opening of the new educational building for Synopsys Amenia, one of the best partners of SEUA, is once again confirming the social responsibility that Synopsys has taken towards the preparation of skilled engineers in the field of microelectornics,” said Ara Avetisyan, Armenian National Academy of Science associate member and SEUA rector. “I am looking forward to using this state-of-the–art teaching facility. It offers a new incentive for our students and will give our talented students an excellent enviroment in which to demonstrate their knowledge.”
“A key reason for our success in Armenia has been our partnership with SEUA. Together through the SAED program we have mentored and trained many new engineers.,” said Rich Goldman, chief executive officer of Synopsys Armenia CJSC, and vice president of Corporate Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Synopsys. “We are grateful that we are able to provide these upgraded classroom facilities so that future classes can benefit from an environment that is more condusive to their studies. We believe the key to Armenia's future is her youth, and we are proud to continue to invest in them.”
“I would like to express my cordial gratitude to all persons and departments who have taken part in creating an educational environment that is in full accordance with the highest state-of-the-art standards, and which enhances our opportunity to qualify SAED students, professors and technical staff,” said Sc.D., Professor Vazgen Melikyan, honorable scientist of RA, director of the Synopsys Armenia educational department and Head of SEUA’ Microelectronic Circuits and Systems Interfaculty Chair.
About the Industry-University Educational Model
In the first years of the Bachelor’s degree program, students obtain a basic education in mathematics, physics and other scientific disciplines at their chosen university. The top-performing students are then selected by Synopsys technical experts and professors for enrollment in the SAED program. Further education in the Bachelor’s program, Master’s program and Ph.D. studies is obtained through a customized SAED curriculum for VLSI design and EDA. Studies are conducted in specially equipped classrooms donated by Synopsys where SAED students have access to the latest EDA software tools in use in industry. Teaching, supervision of course projects, Master’s theses and Ph.D. dissertations are targeted toward actual design projects at Synopsys Armenia. Projects are completed in conjunction with leading professionals from Synopsys and professors from the corresponding university. Upon successful completion of the SAED program, graduates are industry-ready specialists and qualified to work for Synopsys Armenia as well as other high-tech companies. This source of engineers is proving to be an important factor in the development of an EDA industrial cluster in Armenia.
Synopsys Armenia Educational Model
Based on industry cooperation with participating universities, the aim of the Synopsys Armenia Educational Department (SAED) is to train highly qualified specialists in the field of VLSI design and EDA who will meet the specific requirements of semiconductor and IT companies. To support this effort Synopsys put in place computer laboratory infrastructures and donated hundreds of EDA software tool packages to participating universities.
In the first years of the Bachelor program, students obtain a basic education in Mathematics, Physics, etc., at their selected university. After acquiring a basic education around the 4th or 5th semester, top-performing students are selected to participate in the SAED program. Selection of students is made by leading Synopsys technical experts and first-rate professors of the university.
Further education in the Bachelor program, Master program and PhD studies is conducted by customized SAED curriculum for VLSI design and EDA. This custom curriculum addresses the contemporary requirements of leading semiconductor industry and IT companies with involvement of the area’s best professionals and professors.
Studies are carried out in specially-equipped classrooms donated by Synopsys (located in both Synopsys Armenia and the university) where each student has access to the latest EDA software tools via the network. Teaching, supervision of course projects, diploma works, Master theses and PhD dissertations are targeted toward real industry projects at Synopsys Armenia, which are completed jointly with leading engineers from Synopsys and experienced professors from the university.
About Synopsys Armenia CJSC and Synopsys, Inc.
Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNPS) fuels innovation in the global electronics market with software, systems, semiconductor IP and services that address key design, verification and manufacturing challenges. A leader in electronic design automation (EDA), Synopsys, established a presence in Armenia in 2004 as Synopsys Armenia closed joint stock company (CJSC). Synopsys Armenia CJSC provides R&D and product support in EDA, design for manufacturing (DFM) and the development of semiconductor intellectual property (IP). Employing several hundred qualified Armenian engineers, Synopsys is one of largest IT employers in Armenia. To encourage the highest levels of accomplishment for students in IT, the company sponsors awards and competitions such as the Annual Educational Awards of the Republic of Armenia (RA) President, and the Annual International Microelectronics Olympiad of Armenia. Synopsys Armenia’s investment in the community reaches well beyond IT. In 2010, Synopsys in Armenia was recognized as one of 12 finalists for the U.S. Secretary of State’s annual Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), citing the company’s technology and financial leadership as well as its charity work and volunteer activities. Synopsys Armenia CJSC is located in Yerevan. Synopsys, Inc. is headquartered in Mountain View, California, and has approximately 70 offices located throughout North America, Europe, Japan, Asia and India. Visit Synopsys, Inc. and Synopsys Armenia online at http://www.synopsys.com and http://www.synopsys.am.
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Editorial Contact:
Gayane Markosyan
Synopsys Armenia
Office: (374 10) 49 23 56
Mobile: (374 94) 49 22 04
