‘Tracing the Silk Road, sharing wisdom towards greater erudition.’ Such was the spirit embraced by a group of UTAR students and academics as they broadened their horizons at the Chang’an Campus of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), China.
UTAR tour group in front of the library at NPU Chang’an Campus
The voyage to the heart of Shaanxi took place from 11 to 21 June 2025. The study tour group consisted of 19 students and five academics from the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT) and Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES).
The Summer International Workshop II study tour marked UTAR’s second official tour to NPU Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE). It aimed not only to broaden students’ cultural and academic horizons, but also to foster meaningful exchanges, inspire innovative insights, and strengthen collaborative opportunities between UTAR and NPU.
The tour was filled with a diverse range of activities — from intellectually enriching academic sessions to engaging cultural exchanges.
During academic activities, students engaged in a series of exchange forums, hosted by IFE. They were given an in-depth tour around its technology exhibition halls and laboratories, both equipped with an assortment of cutting-edge technologies.
The study group also participated in a full-day research seminar, covering emerging topics such as flexible electronics, machine learning, and climate modelling. Both students and academics actively exchanged research insights and academic perspectives, fostering intellectual synergy, inspiring innovation, and building a collaborative network between the two universities.
UTAR students and academics exploring technologies used at NPU laboratories
The group posing for a photograph after exploring NPU’s heritage at the history museum
Meanwhile, the cultural exchange activities widened students’ view on the rich cultures and heritages of China. One of the highlights in these activities was the Chinese cultural exchange class, brought forth in collaboration with NPU International College. During the class, students were met with timeless arts such as the graceful Peking Opera and its vibrant diversity of face paintings. Just as UTAR has its unique ‘UTAR, my choice’ culture and compassionate heritage known among its scholarly members, NPU has its distinctive heritages as well—and the visiting scholars from Southeast Asia had the opportunity to experience them through NPU’s crafted delights and specialities.
UTAR students and academics immersing themselves in the Peking Opera experience
UTAR students and academics unleashing their creativity on blank masks
Painted masks emanating stories and vibrance, just like the smiles of their creative creators
Besides that, ‘what’s a study tour at the heart of Shaanxi (Xi’an) without an exploration to its colourful and profound cultural and historical landmarks?’ To this end, the visiting students embarked on a guided tour, taking in the grandeur of the Ancient City Wall, the surreal wonder of the Terracotta Warriors, and the reverence inspired by Xi’an’s forebears at the Shaanxi History Museum.
UTAR delegation at the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum
Once a keeper of time, now a sentinel of shining stories in bustling Xi’an — the Bell Tower through the eyes of visiting scholars
Although the study tour concluded away from the world’s gaze, it kindled starry-eyed inspiration in the visiting students and academics. The UTAR students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to NPU for their generosity and warm introduction to the campus’s rich story. As the scholars broadened their international perspectives and deepened their understanding of flexible electronics at NPU, they returned home not only with a clearer vision for their future academic and research paths, but also with lasting friendships.
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