The School of Business will confer ten Honorary Doctors at its May 2026 Ceremonial Conferment – this prestigious celebration is held every five years

The next Ceremonial Conferment of the School of Business will be celebrated from 21 to 23 May 2026. The Ceremonial Conferment is a traditional and prestigious academic celebration where graduates of master’s and doctoral degrees are inducted into the scientific community and accepted according to tradition as its full-fledged members.

Furthermore, at the School of Business, honorary doctors as well as jubilee masters and doctors, who graduated to masters and doctors fifty years ago, i.e., in 1976, will also be conferred.

Ten Distinguished Honorary Doctors

The School of Business will confer ten invited Honorary Doctors. They are significant societal influencers, highly accomplished in their fields of science, or have closely collaborated with the academic staff of the School of Business and its six departments.

Those who have agreed to the invitation and will be conferred to Honorary Doctors in May 2026 are:

• Professor W. Robert Knechel
• Professor Xueming Luo
• Professor George Mailath
• Professor Claus Munk
• Kanslianeuvos Arto Mäenmaa
• President of the Republic Alexander Stubb
• Professional board member Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae
• Professional board member Salla Vainio
• Professor Gyula Vastag
• Professor emerita Eleanor Westney

The Ceremonial Conferment of the School of Business is a three-day celebration that includes, among other events, the ribbon-tying ceremony, the Conferment act and procession, dinner, and the ball. On the last day of the Ceremonial Conferment, the traditional herring lunch, known as ‘sillis’, takes place.

At the School of Business, the Ceremonial Conferment is held every five years. The first Ceremonial Conferment of the School of Business was organised in 1946, so spring 2026 marks the 17th Ceremonial Conferment of the School of Business.