Turku School of Economics Confers Six Honorary Doctors in May

​In the Ceremonial Conferment of May 2016, the faculty confers graduated Master's and doctors who have completed their degrees. Altogether 24 doctors and 21 Masters will be conferred in the ceremony. Doctors graduated from Turku School of Economics and TSE honorary doctors have been conferred also in the Ceremonial Conferments for all the faculties of the University of Turku on 2011, 2013 and 2015. Master's have been previously conferred in the spring of 2012.

In addition to the doctors and Master's, six new honorary doctors will be conferred at the celebration. They receive the recognition for their scientific merits in the fields that are significant to TSE's research profile and for the collaboration with the University of Turku and Turku School of Economics as well as  for their achievements in business life.

Honorary Doctors of Turku School of Economics in 2016

Doctor of Medicine, Medical Counsellor Sakari Alhopuro

MD Alhopuro is conferred as an Honorary Doctor in recognition of his outstanding merits as an innovative entrepreneur and significant achievements in developing private health services in Finland. He has also contributed significantly to research in several fields at the University of Turku as well as to the entrepreneurship education in the Finnish comprehensive schools.

With Alhopuro's support, a professorship of health economics was established in the University of Turku and he has also supported other fields of science, such as the tick study conducted at the Department of Biology. Alhopuro has collaborated for a long time with Turku School of Economics and especially with TSE Exe.

Professor Helen E. Longino, Stanford University

Professor Longino is conferred as an Honorary Doctor in recognition of her research career in the philosophy of science.  Longino has done pioneering and internationally recognised work in highlighting the importance of social interaction and values in knowledge formation and scientific research.

Longino is the Clarence Irving Lewis Professor of Philosophy at the  School of Humanities and Sciences of Stanford University.

Professor Emeritus Ilkka Niiniluoto, University of Helsinki

Professor Emeritus Niiniluoto is conferred as an Honorary Doctor in recognition of his remarkable research career in the philosophy and philosophy of science and his efforts in promoting the development of futures studies as a scientific approach and discipline.  

Niiniluoto was the Chancellor (2008–2013) and the Rector (2003–2008) of the University of Helsinki. Niiniluoto has supported science not only generally but also through the development of futures research and education by being the Chair of the Finland Futures Academy in 1999–2004, among other things.

CEO Ilkka Paananen, Supercell

Paananen is conferred as an Honorary Doctor in recognition of his achievements in creating and growing successful and innovative business on global markets.  Paananen is an entrepreneur with a focus on social responsibility and foresight, and his role in the development of Finnish game industry has been significant.

His company Supercell is a start-up success story. Paananen and Supercell represent innovative business, entrepreneurship and responsibility that are the strategic emphases of Turku School of Economics.

Professor Michael Power, London School of Economics and Political Science

Professor Power is conferred as an Honorary Doctor in recognition of his outstanding international research record and significant contributions in conducting interdisciplinary research in the fields of risk management, auditing, and corporate governance.

Power is the Professor of Accounting at the London School of Economics and Political Science. 

Professori Wolfgang Ulaga, Arizona State University

Professor Ulaga is conferred as an Honorary Doctor in recognition of his pioneering, high-quality research on customer value and servitisation strategies in the field of business-to-business marketing as well as his exceptional ability to combine the requirements of science to practical relevance both in academic research, executive education and teaching of marketing.

Ulaga is a Research Professor and the Co-Executive Director of the Center for Services Leadership at the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

TS/MR
Photo: Jussi Matikainen