Ceremony week in June culminates in Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees in Technology

'Once again there is cause to celebrate - also because this year marks 110 years from when the Polytechnic Institute was made the university-level Technological University of Finland, along with the name change, students gained the rights of secondary school graduates, permanent teachers were granted the title of professor and the degree of "technological doctorate" was defined in the degree regulations', says Professor Kirsi Virrantaus, who will serve as Conferrer.

A total of 1476 doctoral degrees in the field of technology have been awarded at Aalto University in 2010-2017. Aalto's doctors in technology place well on the job market. Of those getting doctorates about 40 percent find employment in companies.

 'According to our follow-up work, our doctors in technology place well and get work fairly quickly. It is also gratifying that alongside universities and research institutes, the proportion of those getting work in the corporate world is clearly growing', Kirsi Virrantaus says.

The proportion of women among new doctors in technology - about 25 percent - has remained stable throughout the existence of Aalto University.

'Positive development can be seen here as well, as the proportion of women among doctoral candidates is gradually increasing', Kirsi Virrantaus says.

Ceremony week crowned by conferment of doctoral degrees in technology

All doctoral candidates who defended their dissertations between 1 July 2016 and 25 May 2018, and who graduated no later than 31 May will be invited to the conferment ceremony. The defence of the doctoral dissertation must be held no later than 25 May. The venue of the ceremony will be Dipoli at Aalto's Otaniemi campus, which has long traditions and which has been magnificently renovated.

During Aalto's Ceremony Week, which will be held for the first time, all those graduating from the university will be honoured.

To launch the week there will be events at which degree certificates will be presented to recipients of new master's and bachelor's degrees from all Aalto schools. All graduates from the academic year 2017-2018 and their families invited to the Graduation Party which will be held on 13 June. The week concludes with the Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees on Friday, 15 June. There will also be events during Ceremony Week that will be open to the public, such as exhibitions and a panel discussion of recipients of honorary doctorates. The participants and themes will be announced in May.

Further information and advance sign-up for the Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees in Technology 2018: ceremonyweek.aalto.fi.

Photo: Aalto University/Adolfo Vera