The Chair of Joining Technology at the University of Rostock dates back to the founding of the Faculty of Engineering in 1951, with a technical symbiosis of materials engineering and welding technology, shaped by shipbuilding. Since 1992, a manufacturing-oriented approach to joining technology has been emphasized, expanding beyond welding technology to include mechanical and hybrid joining techniques as well as brazing and thermal spraying processes. Today, the Chair of Joining Technology at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology offers specialized courses in welding and joining technology for the master’s programs in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Vocational Education. Approximately 30 master’s students enroll in these courses each semester. Another popular option is the recognition of welding technology modules and a special practical course as part of a certified Welding Engineer training program.

Since 1998, cooperation with the Fraunhofer IGP has closely linked university-level teaching in joining technology with industrial research. The continuously growing research activities in ship and steel construction, as well as in mechanical and automotive engineering, provide students with interesting fundamental and application-oriented topics for term papers and theses, facilitating the transition from academic studies to professional practice.

Within the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology, the teaching of joining technology offers numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration with other chairs, particularly those in Manufacturing Technology, Materials Engineering, and Ship Design, as well as Wind Energy Technology, Structural Mechanics, and Marine Technology. These offerings, aligned with engineering requirements, are complemented by additional events coordinated by the Chair of Joining Technology, such as those organized by the German Welding Society and related associations.