The graduation ceremony celebrates graduation from Finland’s leading business school
At Aalto University School of Business, graduation is celebrated about four times a year. The largest graduation ceremony in its history so far was held on 18 September 2026 at Dipoli, when around 270 people celebrated their graduation. Each graduate was allowed to invite two close guests to the celebration, so the size of the event was evident and audible in the crowd.
‘Warm congratulations to all of you who are graduating from the best business school in Finland,’ began Dean Timo Korkeamäki in his speech. ‘Artificial intelligence offers opportunities, but it will not replace human thinking. Working life also requires so-called soft skills, such as interaction skills and emotional intelligence, and these too have been practised in the studies at the School of Business,’ the Dean said.
He also expressed the hope that the graduation ceremony would leave warm memories that would last well into the future, as every graduate has earned this celebration. ‘I also hope that you will get involved in the alumni activities organised by Aalto and the School of Business, which offer a wide range of opportunities.’
The graduation ceremony began with a procession of the graduating students, followed by a performance by a quartet of the Helsinki Academic Choir (KYL), who sang two songs, the second of which was the ‘Finlandia’ anthem. In addition to the Dean, the School of Business graduation ceremony is usually addressed by at least one representative of the graduating class and one representative of the Aalto University Business Students’ Association (KY). On this occasion, Marko Voutilainen, MSc (Econ), represented the graduates and Atte Moisio represented KY. The official part of the celebrations concluded with a reception featuring cake and sparkling wine.
Pin – a small material keepsake
Since 2025, everyone graduating from Aalto University has received their degree certificate only in digital form. Instead of a paper certificate, graduates receive at the graduation ceremony, in a folder, an alumni letter signed by the President of Aalto University, in which the President congratulates them on their degree and welcomes the graduate to the Aalto alumni community. In addition to the President’s letter, the graduate’s folder includes a congratulatory letter from the Dean of the School of Business and a pin.
The pin was designed by the award-winning designer Inni Pärnänen. At the centre of the pin is a seal designed by the visual artist Juha Markula, which serves as a mark of quality for scientific and artistic activities. Both Inni Pärnänen and Juha Markula are Aalto alumni.
Inni Pärnänen designed the pin in 2018. Since then, graduates have received it at the Graduation Party. The Graduation Party was a summer park party held on the Aalto campus for all those who had graduated from Aalto with a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Licentiate degree. Everyone who had graduated since the previous Graduation Party was invited to the celebration.
Although the Graduation Party has become a thing of the past, the handing out of the pin – a small tangible keepsake – has nevertheless been continued, and nowadays the pin can be found in every graduate’s folder. The pin can be attached, for example, to the collar of a jacket or shirt or to a cuff.
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