The Opening Ceremony of the University's Academic Year 2026–2027 was celebrated at the Main Building on 1 September 2026. The celebration included an opening speech from Rector Marjo Kaartinen, where she discussed the challenges that research and universities are facing, the independence and impact of research, and public trust in science and scholarship. In addition, the dissertation awards were presented at the Opening Ceremony.
The academic community of the University of Turku gathered together to open the new academic year with the Opening Carnival and the Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, 1 September 2026.
In her opening day speech, Rector Marjo Kaartinen discussed the challenges that research and universities are facing, the independence and impact of research, and public trust in science and scholarship.
“The existence of our University community is based on science and scholarship. We cannot ignore the sentiment that is sweeping across the world: researched knowledge, science and scholarship, researchers, and universities are facing dire challenges. The University, the University community, and, more broadly, our stakeholders should pause to reflect on this serious matter,” Rector Kaartinen said in her speech.
Kaartinen said she has given a great deal of thought to why science and scholarship are once again targets.
“We are already on a path where the understanding of research and its role is becoming blurred. Academic freedom has also been deliberately misinterpreted, and the concept of freedom is taking on increasingly negative connotations. We should rather talk about academic independence. Research is critical, systematic, and self-correcting. Research does not yield to external pressures. It is guided by shared principles that do not change according to the interests of funders, commissioners, or political agendas.”
In her speech, Kaartinen highlighted that Finns have a high level of trust in science and scholarship according to research.
“When faced with challenges, we choose to trust that people in Finland still believe in research. However, we must remain vigilant, as mental landscapes are shaped in subtle ways.”
Kaartinen reminded the audience that research is not a villain.
“The research conducted at our multidisciplinary University affects people’s lives in many ways and is often so closely connected to everyday life that we may not even realise the day-to-day significance of research. Research is also of utmost importance for the future of Finland. Universities generate new knowledge, understanding and expertise, providing the foundation upon which democracy, security, education, a sustainable economy, and the renewal of society are built.”
Turku Finnish University Society's awards for distinguished dissertations
The Turku Finnish University Society's awards for distinguished dissertations were presented at the Opening Ceremony. The University Society gave the awards to dissertations of exceptional quality completed during the previous academic year.
The dissertation awards were presented to PhD Pere Bosch-Barceló (Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine) for his dissertation The Efficacy of a Gamified Virtual Reality Environment combined with tDCS in Treadmill Based Gait Rehabilitation for Parkinson’s Disease, to PhD Vadzim Krautsou (Astronomy, Faculty of Science) for his dissertation Polarized Radiation from Accreting Black Holes in X-ray Binaries, to PhD Natasha Skult (Computer Science, Faculty of Technology) for her dissertation Interactive Storytelling with Quantum Computing, and to PhD Noora Viljamaa for her dissertation Lived Disadvantage in the Life Courses of Illegitimate Children in Nineteenth-Century Finland.
