Academic events and traditions

Conferment Officiants and committee roles

Conferment has officiants with key roles to make sure the ceremonies maintain the core traditions. At Aalto University, the officiants usually are members of the conferment committee.

The School of Engineering is the school responsible for organising the 2024 Ceremonial Conferment. The conferment committee is chaired by the dean of the hosting school and has academia representation from all the four schools of technology as well as experts in different areas of arrangements.
Guilds flags
Photo: Aalto University / Heli Sorjonen

2024 Conferment Committee members

 Kari Tammi (Dean, School of Engineering)

Kari Tammi (Dean, School of Engineering)

Chair
 Olli Varis (Professor, School of Engineering)

Olli Varis (Professor, School of Engineering)

Conferrer
 Saija Toivonen (Professor, School of Engineering)

Saija Toivonen (Professor, School of Engineering)

Master of ceremonies
 Jarkko Niiranen (Professor, School of Engineering)

Jarkko Niiranen (Professor, School of Engineering)

Master of ceremonies
 Marjatta Louhi-Kultanen (Professor, School of Chemical Engineering)

Marjatta Louhi-Kultanen (Professor, School of Chemical Engineering)

Committee member
 Tapio Lokki (Professor, School of Electrical Engineering)

Tapio Lokki (Professor, School of Electrical Engineering)

Committee member
 Gary Marquis (Professor, School of Engineering)

Gary Marquis (Professor, School of Engineering)

Committee member
 Pauliina Ilmonen (Professor, School of Science)

Pauliina Ilmonen (Professor, School of Science)

Committee member
 Elina Karvonen (Development manager, School of Engineering)

Elina Karvonen (Development manager, School of Engineering)

Committee member

Riitta Särkisilta-Lundberg (Communications manager, School of Engineering)

Committee member
 Tatu Pohjola (Communications Services)

Tatu Pohjola (Communications Services)

Master of Ceremonies at Aalto University
 Nicoletta Michieletto (Coordinator, Schools of Technology)

Nicoletta Michieletto (Coordinator, Schools of Technology)

Project coordinator

Officiants in the field of technology

The conferrer of degrees bestows the academic title of doctor on the promovendi and ensures that the ceremonies proceed smoothly. The conferring of the promovendi includes the speech to the promovendi, reading the diplomas of the honorary doctors, reading the names of the promovendi as well as placing the doctoral hats on the heads. By tradition, an academically distinguished professor of senior tenure is named to serve in this honorary role.

The master of ceremonies' role includes the guidance of the academic procession and seeing to the conventions and protocols at all the ceremonies and events. For the banquet, the masters of ceremonies prepare and give instructions for the progress of the evening as well as introduce the performers of the event. In the ball, the masters of ceremonies lead the opening dance Polonaise. In the field of technology, the tradition is to elect two masters of ceremonies and the persons serving in this honorary role are chosen from the younger ranks of the professorial faculty. The insignia of the master of ceremonies features a broad golden sash.

Other roles

The Conferrer's assistants: the Conferrer has two assistants on stage to handle the doctoral hats and honorary doctors' diplomas during the Act of Conferment. The assistants are traditionally students as well as children of professors of Aalto University.

The ushers help organising the procession, guide guests to the right seats and make sure that all the subjects involved in the Act and Banquet find their right spot and role. The ushers are selected among the university students belonging to the guilds of the schools of technology.

The guilds of the schools of technology

School of Chemical Engineering:
Association of process engineering students (PK)
Forest Product’s Guild (PJK)
Chemistry Guild (KK)
Guild of Materials and Metallurgy Students 

School of Electrical Engineering:
Guild of Automation and Systems Technology (AS)
Guild of Bioinformation Technology (Inkubio)
Guild of Electrical Engineering (SIK)

School of Engineering:
Guild of Mechanical Engineers
Guild of Surveying Engineers
Guild of Civil Engineers

School of Science:
Computer Science Guild
Data Guild
Guild of Physics
Athene (Guild of Information Networks)
Prodeko (Guild of Industrial Engineering and Management)

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