The sixth Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees at the University of Vaasa was a celebration of academia at its best
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University of Vaasa's sixth Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees was held from 19 to 21 September 2024. The conferment ceremony is the highest celebration of academic work, where doctors and honorary doctors are conferred. Those who have completed their doctoral degree receive the insignia associated with the doctoral status - the hat, the sword and the diploma - in the conferment ceremony.
The conferment celebrations traditionally last three days and consist of several different events. Traditions have significant role in the conferment ceremony, and many of the forms of the ceremonies have remained unchanged. Yet the ceremony is not set in stone; it changes through time and with its organising university, making it a unique event each time.
The University of Vaasa's conferment ceremony continues a centuries-old European tradition, which arrived in Finland in the 17th century via Uppsala. The first conferment ceremony of the University of Vaasa took place in 1988.
Preparation for the act of conferment
The conferment celebrations started with dance rehearsal on Thursday 19 September in the afternoon. The day continued with the rehearsal of the act of conferment, followed by the climax of the day, the sword-whetting ceremony.
At the sword-whetting ceremony, honorary doctors and doctors to be conferred, or promovendi, whet their swords for the following day's act of conferment. At the beginning of the event, Susanna Kultalahti, Head Marshall, gave a welcoming speech and Mats Brandt, D.Sc. (Admin), gave a speech on the sword. Then the actual sword whetting began under the guidance of the Master of Ceremonies, Arto Rajala. The marshals, a group of assisting students, turned the grindstone while the honorary doctors and promovendi polish their swords against it. The evening continued with a dinner for doctors and honorary doctors at the University of Vaasa.
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At the act of conferment, honorary doctors and doctors were conferred
The actual celebration, the act of conferment, took place on Friday 20 September. The message of the conferment ceremony is summed up in the symbols given to the doctors - a hat, a sword and a diploma. The diploma confirms the doctor's dignity and status as a member of the academic community. The doctor's hat is a symbol of scientific freedom. The sword symbolises truth. It is a weapon of the spirit in the hand of the wearer, who fights for the truth, right and good that the scientist has determined.
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Rector Minna Martikainen opened the event with a warm welcome to everyone. In her speech, she emphasised the need for universities and doctors to carry out high-quality academic research - often in collaboration with partners, as our society and the planet face unprecedented challenges.
“We want researched knowledge to reach decision-makers, businesses and citizens, not fake and disinformation. Through education, research and active social impact, we can change the world to be a more sustainable place for future generations. Our future depends on both high-quality skills and critical thinking, creativity and the ability to use knowledge to strengthen our country's vitality. On a day of celebration like this, our academic procession through the city is a symbol of the university's importance to the surrounding region, to Finland and to society.”
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Conferrer Merja Koskela gave a speech to the "young" doctors.
“This ceremony is not only about looking back at your important academic achievement, it is also about moving forward and addressing the significance of an academic degree into society.”
Koskela pointed out that it is only at the conferment ceremony that doctors are officially allowed to wear the symbols of the doctorate, the hat and the sword.
“The right to bear these symbols is not only a right, but also entails responsibilities, for which the hat and sword provide symbolic tools. It means, for example, defending the common good and informed decision-making from censorship, control, hate speech, silencing and similar challenges.”
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The University of Vaasa awarded honorary doctorates to 12 persons of scientific or societal merit. The honorary doctorate is the highest recognition that universities can award. In connection with the conferment ceremony, the university respects foreign and domestic scientifically or socially distinguished persons of its choice by awarding them this title.
The following people was awarded honorary doctorates: President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sari Essayah, Chairman of Investor AB, Jacob Wallenberg, former CEO, Executive Advisor of ABB, Björn Rosengren, Counsellor of Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Katju Holkeri, Professor at Aston University, Tim Baines, University Professor at Fordham University, Iftekhar Hasan, Professional Board Member Anne Korkiakoski, Acting Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics, Roberto Verganti, Expert on Economic Policy, Johnny Åkerholm, Professor at BOSMAL Automotive R&D Institute, Piotr Bielaczyc andProfessor at the Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg, Angappa Gunasekaran. President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and Chairman of Investor AB Jacob Wallenberg received their Honorary Doctorates absent from the ceremony. Read more about our honorary doctorates.
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At the event, each promovendi in turn was conferred as doctor by the conferrer. 64 doctoral candidates at the University of Vaasa have registered for the doctoral conferment ceremony. Of those registered, 32 are Doctors of Science in Business Administration and Economics, 12 in Technology, 14 in Administrative Sciences and six in Philosophy.
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In the honorary doctorate speech, Roberto Verganti, Honorary Doctor of Economics, shared a reflection on what it means to become a scholar.
“This hat symbolises freedom that every researcher to decide the direction of their own research. This hat is not about our own freedom to play around, it is about empowering others to play free. It brings us responsibility that demands deep care, because one day we will meet a scholar will come up with an unconventional idea that challenges our own believes.”
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A spectacular academic procession attracted attention, the celebrations culminated in a conferment ball
After the act of conferment, a spectacular procession moved on to a conferment service or an secular event. The procession proceeded along Kirkkopuistikko to the Vaasa church. Friends and relatives of the conferred doctors, as well as many citizens, gathered to watch the procession. The conferment service and the secular event at Vaasa City Hall were also open to the public.
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The evening programme included a gala dinner at the Mathilda restaurant, followed by a conferment ball at Vaasa City Hall.
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Petra Berg, D.Sc. (Econ), gave a speech for the university at the gala dinner. Rector Minna Martikainen presented the Rector's response to the speech. The speech to the conferrers was given by Bening Mayanti, D.Sc. (Tech), and answered by Harri Jalonen, conferrer. Laura Urrila, D.Sc. (Econ), presented the speech to the Honorary Doctors. The Honorary Doctors' reply was given by Professor Tim Baines.
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After dinner, the promotion celebrations culminated in a conferment ball. The ball included old ballroom dances that had been rehearsed beforehand. During the evening, the conferrers left along the street of honour and the marshals were also released. Katja Sirviö, D.Sc. (Tech), gave a speech to the rising sun.
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The ceremonial conferment ended on Saturday 21 September with a fun day out for the participants. The day included a visit to see the art of the Maaherrantalo/Governor’s house and a brunch in a maritime landscape. At the end of the doctoral conferment ceremony, honorary doctor Sari Essayah gave the closing remarks.
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