Northwestern Polytechnical University

Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), located in Xi’an, Shaanxi, is China’s only multidisciplinary, research-oriented and open university distinguished by the simultaneous development of education and research in aeronautical, astronautical and marine engineering, known as the “three fields of navigation.” It is administered by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, NPU has always received priority national development. It was designated a national key university by the State Council in 1960 and one of 15 national priority development universities during both the 7th and 8th Five-Year Plans. It was one of the first 22 universities to establish a graduate school, joined the first group of “211 Project” universities in 1995, entered the “985 Project” in 2001 and was selected for national “First-Class University” development in Category A in 2017. It is a member of the Excellence League. Upholding the motto “Loyalty, Integrity, Courage and Perseverance” and its ethos of “three solid qualities and one innovation”—solid foundations, diligent work, an unpretentious style and pioneering innovation—it remains rooted in western China and dedicated to national defense. It has achieved many firsts in the history of the People’s Republic and is now writing new chapters in the development of first-class universities and disciplines.

The university has abundant educational resources and distinctive disciplines. It has 16 specialized schools, a School of International Education and an Honors College; 65 undergraduate programs; 32 first-level disciplines and 120 programs authorized to award master’s degrees; 22 first-level disciplines and 71 programs authorized to award doctoral degrees; and 17 postdoctoral research stations.

The university combines recruitment and development to build a concentration of talent. It has 26 academicians of China’s two academies, including externally appointed members; 21 “Thousand Talents Plan” selectees; 30 Changjiang Scholars; 12 recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars; 7 chief scientists of the “973” Program; 2 national experts with outstanding contributions; and 4 recipients of the National Distinguished Teacher Award. It has 2 National Natural Science Foundation innovative research groups, 7 national teaching teams, 7 Ministry of Education innovation teams and 8 national defense innovation teams.

The university has strong research capabilities and makes major technological contributions. It has 8 national key laboratories, 2 national engineering research centers, 3 national international science and technology cooperation bases, 1 national defense science and technology innovation center, 3 joint national-local innovation platforms and 66 provincial or ministerial key laboratories and engineering centers. Among the 16 major national science and technology projects, it has played a major role in feasibility studies and research for 10, including large aircraft, crewed spaceflight and lunar exploration. It has been deeply involved in feasibility studies for the aircraft engine and gas turbine project and participated in developing the Shenzhou spacecraft series. It has China’s only State Key Laboratory of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Special Technology and National Engineering Center for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems. Over the past ten years, it has received 35 national science and technology awards: 4 second prizes in the National Natural Science Awards; 1 first prize and 12 second prizes in the National Technological Invention Awards; and 5 first prizes and 13 second prizes in the National Science and Technology Progress Awards.

The university accelerates commercialization and promotes military-civilian integration. While encouraging dedicated scholarship and teaching, it integrates industry, education and research. It jointly develops platforms with defense industry groups, cooperates with defense factories and institutes in Shaanxi, jointly develops the NPU Military-Civilian Integration Innovation Demonstration Park with Xi’an High-Tech Zone, the Shaanxi Aerospace Propulsion Research Institute with the Shaanxi Department of Science and Technology, the Shaanxi Network Innovation Research Institute with the provincial cyberspace administration, and a “four participants, one joint effort” R&D platform with Shaanxi Energy Group Co., Ltd. Companies such as Xinyao and Bright Laser Technologies, established by university teachers using intellectual property as equity, have become important forces in local economic transformation and sources of regional innovation in additive manufacturing (3D printing), ceramic composites, high-performance new materials, high-end equipment manufacturing, general aviation aircraft and intelligent underwater vehicles. This has gradually formed an effective “NPU Model” for commercialization and industrialization of research and an “NPU Path” for military-civilian integration.

The university embraces diversity and openness. It has established “international classes” using an integrated undergraduate, master’s and doctoral approach to international talent education at home, in which Chinese and international students attend the same classes, take the same examinations, conduct research in the same laboratories and participate in the same class activities. It has established close partnerships with 149 overseas universities. In 2014, witnessed jointly by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Belgian prime minister, it signed a cooperation agreement with Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). In 2016, the Ministry of Education formally approved Queen Mary University of London Engineering School, Northwestern Polytechnical University, the first Sino-foreign cooperative education institution in northwestern China. The university held the rotating chair of the Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities in 2016-2017 and of the China-ASEAN Alliance of Technical Universities in 2016.

With strong winds filling its sails and broad horizons ahead, NPU leads in aeronautics, astronautics and marine engineering. On its new journey to develop world-class universities and disciplines, it will remain rooted in China and strengthen its ability to serve major national strategic needs, the defense science and technology industry and national modernization, while advancing global scientific and technological progress. It will uphold its mission, reform and innovate, unite its strengths and pursue excellence. With a broader vision, greater energy, a more open outlook and more substantial work, it will write a new chapter toward becoming a world-class university with distinctive disciplines and major influence in aeronautics, astronautics, marine engineering and related fields!