In April, six Queen Mary Engineering students got the opportunity to visit China as part of the Queen Mary Engineering School (QMES) 2025 International Exchange Programme at Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU) in Xi'an.

Anu Ogunjinrin, Jamie Kojodonkor Conchado Amponsah, Leah Bosworth, Maheen Muhammed, Muhie Al Haimus and Nicholas Saladze spent a week in China, and in return will welcome students from QMES to London this summer.

Throughout the week the students joined their international classmates in studying and lab work at NPU and also got to explore the city’s rich culture and landscape – from cycling along the historic city wall and visiting the world-famous Terracotta Warriors to enjoying the cuisine and attending sporting events.

“Beyond the labs, we explored how engineering thinking is deeply embedded in China's historical achievements. Visiting the Terracotta Army, Xi’an’s city walls, and other ancient infrastructures allowed me to reflect on the ingenuity, scale, and structural design behind these feats — bridging ancient techniques with modern-day engineering inspiration.” Said Nicholas, “I am grateful for this unforgettable experience — one that has inspired me to keep growing both technically and culturally, and to continue building bridges through engineering.”

“It was inspiring to see how much innovation and collaboration is happening on a global scale. This experience has truly broadened my personal and professional horizons. I am excited now to help welcome NPU students to Queen Mary University of London this summer!” said Anu.