University of Rostock

University of Rostock
Universität Rostock

Seal of the University of Rostock
Latin: Universitas Rostochiensis
Motto Traditio et Innovatio
Motto in English
 Tradition and Innovation
Type Public
Established 13 February 1419
Budget € 148.5 million (2013)[1]
Chancellor Mathias Neukirchen
Rector Professor Wolfgang D. Schareck[2] (906th rector)
Administrative staff
 6,335 (2008, including University Hospital)
Students 14,417 (2013)[1]
Postgraduates 2,566 (2013)[1]
1,298 (2013)[1]
Location Rostock, Germany
54°4′32″N 12°6′12″E / 54.07556°N 12.10333°E / 54.07556; 12.10333
Campus Urban
Nobel Laureates 5
Colours Blue & Black          
Affiliations EUA
DFG
DAAD
Website www.uni-rostock.de

The University of Rostock (Rostock University, German: Universität Rostock) is a public university located in Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Founded in 1419, it is the third-oldest university in Germany. It is the oldest and largest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area, and 8th oldest in Central Europe.[3] It was the 5th university established in the Holy Roman Empire. The university has been associated with five Nobel laureates. Famous alumni include Nobel laureates: Albrecht Kossel, Karl von Frisch, and Otto Stern; theoretical physicists: Pascual Jordan and Walter H. Schottky. It is a member of the European University Association. The language of instruction is usually German, but English for postgraduate studies.

University of Rostock's main building
Detail of the central building depicting the coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

History

It was founded in 1419 by confirmation of Pope Martin V and thus is the oldest university in Northern Europe.

In Germany, there are only five universities that were founded before, while only Heidelberg and Leipzig operated continuously since then: Heidelberg (1386), Cologne (1388), Erfurt (1392/1994), Würzburg (1402/1582) and Leipzig (1409). That makes Rostock University the third oldest German university in continuous operation.

Throughout the 15th century, the University of Rostock had about 400 to 500 students each year, a large number at that time. Rostock was among the largest universities in Germany at the time and many of its students also came from the Low Countries, Scandinavia or other states bordering the Baltic Sea.

In the course of political struggles and pressure from the church, the university moved to Greifswald in 1437 and remained there until 1443. From 1487 to 1488 teaching took place in Lübeck.

A few years later the city of Rostock, its university also became Protestant in 1542. Humanism and Lutheranism were defining characteristics of the university. After the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), the University of Rostock played only a regional role. When the "ownership" of the university moved from the city to the state (Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin) in 1827, however, things changed for the better. The end of the 19th century saw generous building activity in Rostock's alma mater and the university soon regained its old reputation amongst German universities.

1919–1945

On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the university, Albert Einstein and Max Planck received honorary doctorates on 12 November 1919. This made the University of Rostock the world's first institute of higher learning to award this honour to Einstein. Interestingly enough, the doctorate was not revoked during the Nazi rule in Germany (1933–1945), despite such orders by the Nazis. The reason for this remains unknown. David Katz, Hans Moral (committed suicide) and others lost their posts in 1933.

1945–1989

The end of the Second World War in 1945 brought many changes. The university, now finding itself in the Soviet Zone of Germany (the later German Democratic Republic), was re-opened on 24 February 1946. The Faculty of Law was closed in 1951, a Faculty of Agriculture was introduced in 1950 and in 1951 saw the opening of a Department of Shipbuilding (renamed Faculty of Technology in 1963). The University of Rostock was the first traditional university in Germany to open a technical faculty. In 1952, the Faculty of Aviation was opened, but eventually relocated to Dresden.

In 1976 the university was renamed Wilhelm-Pieck-Universität after Wilhelm Pieck, the first president of the German Democratic Republic. The renaming was annulled after the German reunification.

In 1978, the university engaged in a partnership with the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), to help design the course structure and support the development of the Department of Ship Technology at CUSAT. Also, a group of Rostock faculty members were sent to Cochin University of Science and Technology to improving the university's teaching facilities, remaining there until the late 1980s. The prominent place of Cochin University of Science and Technology's Department of Ship Technology in the world maritime industry is thus largely credited to the extensive support of the University of Rostock.

1989–present

The regional economy has improved as over 800 companies launched from the university since 1991. External funding for research increased between 2005 and 2010 by 83% and currently is above 47 million Euros per year. Over 500 million Euros has been invested in the university infrastructure since 1991, which will reach 750 million Euros by 2015. The number of young people from the West Germany and international students who choose University of Rostock as a study location, are increasing every year. International Students from 99 different countries have been studied at University of Rostock. In 2007, the University of Rostock gathered its research capacities into three profile lines: Life, Light & Matter (LLM), Maritime Systems, and Aging of Individuals and Society. In 2010 a fourth was added, called Knowledge-Culture-Transformation. Life, Light & Matter develops new concepts for future technologies based on atomic and molecular processes in connection with laser optics and life sciences. Maritime Systems unites oceanographers, engineers, humanities scholars, agricultural and social scientists, economists and lawyers. Aging of Individuals and Society has as its target a self-determined lifestyle in old age. Knowledge-Culture-Transformation deals with media and the representation of knowledge, transformation of knowledge, knowledge and interculturalism as well as knowledge and power.

Academic profile

Rankings

Rankings
ARWU National (2014)[4] 31-39
ARWU World (2014)[4] 401-500
ARWU World, Chemistry (2014)[5] 101-150
CWTS Leiden National (2014)[6] 43
CWTS Leiden World (2014)[6] 405
CWTS Leiden World, Natural Sciences (2014)[7] 269
CWTS Leiden World, Cognitive Science (2014)[7] 245
CWTS Leiden World, Life Science (2014)[7] 336
CWTS Leiden National (2013)[8] 38
CWTS Leiden World (2013)[8] 379
URAP National (2014)[9] 34
URAP World (2014)[9] 428
URAP World, Chemistry (2014)[10] 224
NTUR National (2014)[11] 34
NTUR World (2014)[11] 429
NTUR World, Chemistry (2014)[12] 175

University of Rostock was ranked in 2014: 401-500 in the world in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Academic Ranking of World Universities.[4] The CWTS Leiden Ranking ranked University of Rostock as 327th in 2012,[13] 379th in 2013,[8] and 405th in 2014.[6] However, since 2010, QS World University Rankings has not listed University of Rostock within the top 500 universities.[14] Moreover, Times Higher Education World University Rankings has not listed University of Rostock within the top 400 universities since 2011.[15] In 2014, the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) ranked University of Rostock as 481st in the world, 352nd in Quality of Teaching, 210th in Quality of Faculty, 478th in Alumni Employment, 433rd in Publications, 380th in Broad Impact, and 338th in Patents.[16] According to the SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR), University of Rostock was ranked in the world in 2014: 557 in Output, 238 in Innovative Knowledge, 325 in Technological Impact, 691 in Scientific Talent Pool, 658 in Excellence with Leadership, and 585 in Website Size.[17] The National Taiwan University Ranking (NTUR) published by the Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan (HEEACT) ranked University of Rostock as 429th worldwide in 2014.[11] According to the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP), Rostock University was ranked as 34th in Germany and 428th in the world in 2014.[9] Webometrics ranked University of Rostock at 555 worldwide.[18]

The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) ranked University of Rostock among 101-150 in Chemistry in the world in 2014.[5] In 2014, the CWTS Leiden Ranking ranked University of Rostock in the world as 269th in Natural Sciences, 336th in Life Sciences, 463rd in Medical Sciences, 449th in Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering, and 245th in Cognitive Science.[7] The National Taiwan University Ranking (NTUR) ranked University of Rostock as 175th worldwide in Chemistry in 2014.[12] According to the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP), Rostock University was ranked 224th worldwide in Chemistry in 2014.[10]

According to a nationwide ranking survey conducted by the University of Munich, the University of Rostock is among the top-ten of most start-up friendly universities in Germany in 2009. This ranking was determined based on an investigation into 59 German universities. The study shows that University of Rostock improved its position from 17th in 2007 to 10th in 2009. The study also suggests that University of Rostock performed well in the area of qualification and counselling of start-ups and in the field of coordination and mobilization of start-up potential.[19] In winter semester 2013/14, 14,417 students were matriculated at Rostock University.[1]

Research

In recent years, the University of Rostock has undergone significant conceptual and organisational changes, which included the bundling of competences and research activities in the interdisciplinary, cross-faculty departments of the Interdisciplinary Faculty. Scientific priorities of the faculties have improved by including the interdisciplinary-based research units: Collaborative Research Centres, Research Training Groups, and Research Units.[20]

The university cooperates with several independent research centres. Among those:

Organisation and structure

Like many continental European universities, the University of Rostock is divided into academic faculties (German: Fakultät). Those can be sub-divided into academic departments (German: Institut) and chairs (German: Lehrstuhl).

Faculties

It is divided into the following nine faculties:

  • Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
    • Plants and Soil
    • Ecology and (Coastal)-Landscape
    • Biomass, Aqua and Lifestock Sciences
  • Faculty of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
    • Institute of Informatics
    • Institute of Electrical Engineering
    • Department of Computational Engineering
  • Faculty of Law
    • Department of Law
    • International Commercial Law
    • International Business Administration
  • Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Marine Technology
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Marine Technology
    • Mechatronics
    • Biomedical Technology
  • Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
    • Institute of Biology
    • Institute of Chemistry
    • Institute of Mathematics
    • Institute of Physics
  • Faculty of Medicine
    • Albrecht Kossel Institute for Neuroregeneration
    • General Medicine
    • Dental Medicine
    • Anatomy
    • Medical Biotechnology
    • Informatics in Medicine and Gerontology
    • Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology
    • Experimental Surgery
    • History of Medicine
    • Immunology
    • Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
    • Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
    • Medical Biology
    • Medical Genetics
    • Medical Microbiology
    • Medical Psychology and Sociology
    • Pathology
    • Pharmacology and Toxicology
    • Physiology
    • Proteome Center Rostock
    • Forensic Medicine
    • Transfusion Medicine
    • Institute of Experimental Gene Therapy and Tumor Research
    • Cell Biology
  • Faculty of Humanities
    • Department of Educational Science
    • Institute of General and Social Pedagogy
    • Institute of Educational Psychology Rosa and David Katz
    • Institute for Teacher Education
    • Department of English Language
    • Department of German Studies
    • Department of Romance Language
    • Heinrich Schliemann Institute of Archaeology
    • Institute of History
    • Institute for Media Research
    • Institute of Philosophy
    • Institute of Sports Science
    • Institute of Folklore
    • Moritz Schlick Research Centre
    • Centre for Logic, Philosophy and History of Science (ZLWWG)
  • Faculty of Theology
    • Institute of Image Theory
    • Institute of Text and Culture
  • Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences
    • Institute of Business Administration
    • Institute of Marketing and Services Research
    • Institute of Sociology and Demography
    • Institute of Political and Administrative Sciences
    • Institute of Economics

Facilities

Rostock University Library

Michaeliskloster, part of the Rostock University Library (Special Historical Library Collections)

The Rostock University Library consists of 3 divisional libraries and several specialized libraries provides scientific literature and information for research, education and study. The university statistics shows about 3 million physical volumes recorded in the catalogue. It provides access to electronic journals (EZB) and specialized databases (DBIS). The library possesses large special collections of culturally historical and scientifically historical old books.[21] In the Patents and Standards Centre (PNZ), all DIN norms and regulations as well as the VDI guidelines are provided.[22] Moreover, the library also contains the university archive and the art treasure collection.[23]

Rostock Student Services

The Rostock Student Services (German: Studentenwerk Rostock) provides accommodation for newly arrived international students who plan to study at the University of Rostock and the Rostock University of Music and Theatre. International students, who have not lived or studied in Germany, are considered for a Starter Package service. However, short-time students and students on a programme (ERASMUS; Sokrates) are given a low priority, while postgraduate students cannot use this service.[24]

Rostock University Hospital

The university operates a hospital, which has several teaching and research institutes.[25] Among those:

Points of interest

Partner Universities

Although cooperation and student exchanges are possible with many more institutions, the university has signed cooperation agreements with the following international universities:

Europe

World

Notable alumni

See also: Category:University of Rostock alumni, Category:University of Rostock faculty and List of Rectors of University of Rostock
Honorary doctorate certificate of Rostock University to Albert Einstein in 1919

In nearly six centuries numerous notable students and professors have had ties with the university, for instance:

550 years Rostock University: Stamp of the GDR from 1969

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 University of Rostock Statistics
  2. ↑ Prof. Wolfgang Schareck ist der neue Rektor der Universität Rostock
  3. ↑ Prague (1348), Kraków (1364), Vienna (1365), Pécs (1367), Heidelberg (1386), Cologne (1388), Leipzig (1409), Rostock (1419).
  4. 1 2 3 "University of Rostock - Shanghai Ranking".
  5. 1 2 "Academic Ranking of World Universities in Chemistry - Shanghai Ranking".
  6. 1 2 3 "CWTS Leiden Ranking 2014".
  7. 1 2 3 4 "University of Rostock - UniversityRanking.ch".
  8. 1 2 3 "CWTS Leiden Ranking 2013".
  9. 1 2 3 "URAP Ranking 2014, Germany". Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  10. 1 2 "URAP Chemical Sciences Ranking 2014, Germany". Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  11. 1 2 3 "NTUR Ranking 2014, Top Universities in Germany". Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  12. 1 2 "NTUR Chemistry Ranking 2014, Top Universities in Germany". Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  13. ↑ "CWTS Leiden Ranking 2012".
  14. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2014". Top Universities.
  15. ↑ "Times Higher Education (THES) - QS World University Rankings 2014". Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  16. ↑ "University of Rostock". Center for World University Rankings 2014.
  17. ↑ "University of Rostock". SCImago Institutions Rankings. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  18. ↑ "University of Rostock". Webometrics. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  19. ↑ "University of Rostock in the top-ten of most start-up friendly universities". Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  20. ↑ "Research at the University of Rostock". Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  21. ↑ "Rostock University Library, University Archive".
  22. ↑ "Rostock University Library, Patents and Standards Centre".
  23. ↑ "Rostock University Library". Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  24. ↑ "Studentenwerk Rostock, Starter Package". Retrieved 2015-01-03.
  25. ↑ "Universitätsklinikum Rostock". University of Rostock. 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  26. ↑ http://www.einstein-website.de/z_information/honours.html#rostock

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