Located in the historic city of Xi'an, Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) is a national Double First-Class University under the affiliation of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), characterized by the cultivation of talent and scientific research in the fields of aeronautics, astronautics, and marine technology engineering. NPU traces its origins to three prominent academic streams: the National Northwestern Institute of Engineering, the East China Institute of Aeronautics, and the Air Force Engineering Department of the Harbin Military Academy of Engineering. In 1960, it was designated as a national key university by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. It was listed among the universities designated for national priority development by the State Council during the 7th and 8th Five-Year Plan periods. NPU was among the first universities to be admitted into the 211 Project in 1995 and the 985 Project in 2001. In 2017, it was selected into the Double First-Class Initiative (Category A). NPU is a member of Excellence 9 and a founding member of the Belt and Road Aerospace Innovation Alliance.
NPU has fully implemented the Party's education policies, adheres to NPU motto "Loyalty, Integrity, Courage, and Perseverance", and carries forward NPU spirit of being "Strong Preparation, Diligent Effort, Practical Attitude, and Creative Innovation". NPU remains firmly rooted in western China and dedicated to serving national defense, pursuing a development strategy centered on engineering, built on distinctive strengths in aeronautics, astronautics and marine engineering, empowered by information technology, and driven by interdisciplinary integration. It has cultivated outstanding talents for the Party and forged strategic capabilities for the country, making significant contributions to national development and achieving numerous "firsts" in the history of PRC. NPU has provided strong support for the development of weaponry and equipment, the autonomy and security of core and critical technologies in the national defense sector, and national economic development. NPU is the only university that has been twice awarded the "Major Contribution Award" jointly presented by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission. NPU has also received numerous honorary titles and commendations, including "National Civilized Unit", "National Civilized Campus", "National Model University for Graduates Employment", "National Model Collective for Ethnic Unity and Progress", "National Advanced Primary-level Party Organization in the 'Striving for Excellence' Campaign", and "National Demonstration University for Party Building".
Upholding the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, NPU has achieved remarkable success in talent cultivation. NPU vigorously promotes the "Chief Engineer Education Culture", which strives to cultivate leading talents with profound patriotism, the pursuit of excellence, and the ability to shape the future. NPU has supplied over 350,000 talents to the national defense science a...
Adhering to the strategy of cultivating talent internally while attracting talent globally, NPU has assembled a distinguished faculty. Deeply implementing the talent strategy for a new era, NPU emphasizes the leading role of high-level talents. It strives to cultivate strategic scientists, leading sci-tech innovators and innovation teams by reinforcing the development of top domestic talents wh...
Strengthening scientific innovation, NPU has made outstanding contributions to technology advancement. Following the strategic direction of "Four Orientations", NPU has refined the "Direction-Team-Platform-Project-Achievement" innovation chain, coordinating efforts to strengthen breakthroughs in core technologies. NPU promotes the two-way synergy of "0 to 1" breakthroughs in basic sciences and ...
Accelerating the commercialization of research findings, NPU has strengthened its capacity to serve society. Opening up the government-Industry-University-Research-Application chain, NPU continuously promotes the transformation of scientific and technological innovations into practical applications, supporting the cultivation of emerging and future industries. NPU pioneered the "Three Reforms" ...
NPU has deepened its global outreach and rapidly enhanced its international reputation. It has fully implemented the strategy of opening up education to the outside world, expanded global cooperation, and established close partnerships with over 300 overseas universities, enterprises, and research institutes, including 80 universities ranked among the world's top 200, which has significantly boosted its international standing. NPU has coordinated efforts to "go global" in education: it has set up a campus in Kazakhstan and the China-Kazakhstan Institute for Outstanding Engineers. In May 2023, the presidents of China and Kazakhstan witnessed the signing of the agreement to jointly build the Kazakhstan Campus of NPU. In July 2024, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has emphasized efforts to "ensure the success of the Kazakh campus of the Northwestern Polytechnical University to foster future generations who will carry forward the China-Kazakhstan friendship" in a signed article. It has actively introduced high-quality education resources from world-class foreign universities of science and engineering, establishing the Queen Mary University of London Engineering School, NPU, and the NPU-MAI Joint School, NPU. It has also undertaken the construction of the China Branch of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. NPU hosts 14 national-level international science and technology cooperation platforms. Over the past five years, it has invited more than 5,000 foreign experts, including winners of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, and Fields Medal, to conduct academic exchanges. A total of 16 foreign experts have been awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award, ranking among the top universities nationwide. NPU has deeply participated in the international governance of higher education and science and technology, and expanded cooperation with international organizations. It has initiated and established four multilateral international exchange and cooperation platforms, including the Belt and Road Aerospace Innovation Alliance. It has collaborated with the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) to set up an Aerospace Innovation Talent Training Base, and with the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific to establish the Belt and Road Engineering Education and Training Center. It also leads to the preparation for the establishment of the International Green Aviation Association (IAGA).
As the tide surges and sails race forward, NPU embarks on a new journey with determination. The university will continue to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, anchor its mid-term goal of "One, Ten, Hundred, Thousand" and its long-term vision of "Global prestige and world-leading aeronautics, astronautics and marine technology", build on its achievements while pursuing innovative development, act with dedication and strive for excellence, and strive to write a new chapter in building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics, making greater contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the progress of human civilization.
(Data as of January 26, 2026)
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Youyi campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University ADD: 127 West Youyi Road, Beilin District, Xi'an Shaanxi, 710072, P.R.China.
Chang'an campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University ADD: 1 Dongxiang Road, Chang'an District, Xi'an Shaanxi,710129, P.R.China.