Author: Alex Millar, MEng(Hons) Integrated Design Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Before this summer, I had never been to China, or anywhere in Asia. So, when I landed in Shanghai for the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) – University of Bath Engineering Practice Summer School, almost everything was new. It was an incredible experience to step into such a different environment and I got to understand both sides of it: China's cultural heritage, from the classical gardens Yu Gardens to the huge Temples dotted around Shanghai, and life in China today which is fast, modern and has an attention to detail I have never experienced before.
Engineering in Practice
It was a real privilege to spend that week at SJTU and not just looking at the research but getting properly hands-on with it.
Across the aeroengine training, we took real turbines and compressors apart before rebuilding them, and worked with sophisticated tools like borescopes for inspecting damage deep inside an engine without dismantling it, exactly as it is done in service.
We were also lucky to learn about aerospace from people at the very top of the field, including the engineer behind the GE90, the engine that powered the Boeing 777.
Another highlight was watching live compressor tests in world-class facilities, inside the second-largest soundproof chamber in China.
We were also granted the opportunity to visit several companies associated with SJTU, allowing us a glimpse into the forefront of how advanced robotic solutions are being implemented into the manufacturing sector.
Learning Beyond Engineering
Some of the biggest lessons had nothing to do with engineering.
The main challenge was not being able to speak Mandarin, but a bit of good humour, patience and Google Translate let us overcome it surprisingly well. Many of the people we spent the week with did not speak much English either; canhowever we were able to build meaningful relationships with them.
The same was true within our own group coming from Bath, which spanned every stage of the degree from first years to finalists, a mix I rarely get otherwise.
Building International Connections
One of the highlights of the trip was the opportunity to spend time with both SJTU and Bath students outside of the formal programme.
Having a group made up of SJTU and Bath students watching England play Argentina at three in the morning together was certainly memorable, despite the result!
An Unforgettable Experience
The whole week was brilliant, but the time we spent together and the things we saw were what made it so unforgettable: racing a dragon boat down the SJTU canals, eating our way through some genuinely amazing food and experiencing a place so hugely different from home.
If you get the chance to do something like this, take it. You come back a more capable engineer and a more confident person, with opportunities and experiences you would never have thought possible.
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