Academic events and traditions

Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees in Technology 2023

The ceremonial conferment of the Schools of Technology at Aalto University took place on Friday 16 June 2023. The most prestigious of the academic events was hosted by the School of Science.
SCI dean Jouko Lampinen
The dean of the School of Science Jouko Lampinen at the 2023 Act of Conferment, photo Aalto University / Mika Levälampi
Old conferment photo

The Ceremonial Conferment is a festive event that has long-standing traditions at Aalto University and its predecessors. The traditions of all Finnish universities have roots in the medieval Europe when the first universities were founded in Italy and France. Nowadays, the Finnish universities are globally unique in keeping the conferment traditions alive.

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In the ceremony, the conferred doctors are accepted as full members of the scientific community. The symbol of the inclusion is the specially made hat that the doctors receive in front of the academia of professors, honorary doctors and jubilee doctors. The ceremony also traditionally includes speeches, music and the procession of the academia to start and finish the ceremony. The conferment continues with dinner and ball with traditional ballroom dances as well as modern party music.

2023 Honorary doctors
2023 Honorary Doctors, photo: Aalto University / Heli Sorjonen

Honorary doctorates

Aalto University confers honorary doctorates to persons of high standing in the fields of science, technology, arts or business, or in other societal or cultural activities. These persons also have strong connections to Aalto University or have a significant impact to activities at the Aalto University.

You can find the list of 2023 honorary doctors here.

Pictures of 2023 Ceremonial conferment

Photos: Aalto University / Heli Sorjonen

New doctors exiting Kaleva hall
Academic events and traditions
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