Chinese Students Arrived at ITU for Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) Summer School

ITU is hosting students and faculty members from Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU), one of China’s leading technical universities, as part of its summer school program.

As part of the week‑long summer school program, students and faculty members from NPU, one of China’s long‑established technical universities, were welcomed to ITU’s Ayazağa Campus. Organized within the scope of the collaboration between the two universities in the field of astronautical engineering, the program was initiated under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Alim Rüstem Aslan, Head of ITU’s Department of Astronautical Engineering.

ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal delivered an opening speech on July 27, 2026. He highlighted the steadily strengthening academic relations between Istanbul Technical University and China, as well as the culture of co‑creation that forms the foundation of these collaborations. He emphasized that ITU’s ties with China extend beyond academic visits, noting that the university has been building a long‑term ecosystem based on working together with its partners in China. He pointed to joint research laboratories and ongoing collaborative projects as examples of this ecosystem.

Prof. Dr. Mandal recalled his long‑standing academic engagements in China, noting that he has visited various universities and research ecosystems many times. He described ITU and NPU as “long‑established universities that share a similar approach to technical education.” He underlined the significance of seeing the collaboration between ITU and NPU, particularly in the fields of aeronautics and astronautics, continue to grow stronger with the participation of a new generation of students. Referring to the winter school program held in February 2026, he stated that the academic interaction sustained through that program represents an important example of the strong and sustainable partnership established between the two universities. He expressed his belief that this exchange will further strengthen academic ties, contribute to the shared culture of learning and developing together, and pave the way for future academic and research collaborations. Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal thanked all contributors, especially Prof. Dr. Alim Rüstem Aslan, and wished the visiting NPU students an inspiring and productive week at ITU.