The next Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees of the University of Turku is organised on 28–29 May 2020. 15 honorary doctors will be conferred in the ceremony. They will receive title of the honorary doctor for their scientific merits, collaboration with the University of Turku, or because their actions have had an impact on society.
The Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees is an academic tradition where doctors are granted the symbols of their achievement: the doctoral hat and sword.
In addition to the doctors graduated from the University of Turku, 15 honorary doctors will be conferred in the Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees in May. Each of the University’s seven faculties has selected two honorary doctors and, in addition, the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the Faculty of Humanities, which are celebrating their 100-year anniversary this year alongside the University of Turku, have selected a joint honorary doctor in celebration of the anniversary.
The doctors and honorary doctors will be conferred on Friday, 29 May at 12pm in the the Conferment Ceremony, the main event of the Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees.
Joint Honorary Doctor of the Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Science and Engineering Is Chair of Kone Foundation Board of Trustees
The Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Science and Engineering are conferring a joint honorary doctor in celebration of their 100-year anniversary.
Chair of Kone Foundation Board of Trustees Hanna Nurminen is conferred as an honorary doctor for her significant achievements in advancing multidisciplinary research and supporting new initiatives in humanities, natural sciences and engineering at the University of Turku.
Faculty of Humanities Confers Pioneer of Cognitive Linguistics and Distinguished Scholar of Literary History
The Faculty of Humanities confers Professor Laura A. Janda from UiT The Arctic University of Norway and Professor Rita Felski from the University of Virginia (US) and the University of Southern Denmark as honorary doctors.
Professor Laura A. Janda is conferred as an honorary doctor for her great merits as a scholar and developer of cognitive linguistics. Professor Janda has also advanced the cognitive linguistics research at the University of Turku.
Professor Felski is conferred as an honorary doctor as a recognition for her significant work in aesthetics, comparative literature, feminist theory, cultural studies, and modernity and postmodernity, as well as for her work in advancing the multidisciplinary study of reading and cultural theory research at the University of Turku.
Honorary doctors of the Faculty of Science and Engineering are the CEO of Meyer Turku Oy and Professor of Physics
CEO Jan Meyer of Meyer Turku Oy and Professor of Physics Nora Berrah from the University of Connecticut are conferred as the honorary doctors of the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Doctor Jan Meyer receives the title of honorary doctor as a recognition for his work as a developer of expertise-driven business, a supporter of high-quality and multidisciplinary higher education, and an instigator of dialogue and collaboration between academia and business life. Doctor Meyer has supported the development of engineering education at the University of Turku as a major player in the field.
Professor Nora Berrah is conferred as an honorary doctor for her achievements in the investigation of x-ray and ultrafast interaction of molecules, and especially for her pioneering research in free electron lasers.
Faculty of Medicine Confers Professor of Neonatal Care and Journalist Specialised in the Finnish Social Welfare and Health Care Reform
The Faculty of Medicine confers Professor Emeritus Uwe Ewald from the Uppsala University and Journalist Tiina Merikanto from the Yle national broadcasting company as honorary doctors.
Professor Emeritus Uwe Ewald is conferred as an honorary doctor for his merits in neonatal care, especially in developing countries, as well as for his contribution to neonatal intensive care in the Nordic Countries.
Ms Tiina Merikanto is conferred as an honorary doctor for her achievements in journalism, especially in covering the Finnish social welfare and health care reform. She has discussed the reform objectively and professionally in the public debate.
Honorary Doctors of Turku School of Economics are Professor of Business Strategy and Information Technology and Chair of Board of the Syväränta Group
Turku School of Economics confers Professor of Business Strategy and Information Technology Erik Brynjolfsson from MIT Sloan School of Management and Chair Panu Routila of the Syväranta Group as its honorary doctors.
During his extensive career, Professor Erik Brynjolfsson has studied the effects of technology, and especially that of information technology and AI, on innovations, productivity and future work in digital commerce. His research on companies, markets, and prices are based on innovative use of micro and macro economic models and substantial empirical data.
Mr Panu Routila is conferred as an honorary doctor as a recognition for his work in the management of significant national and global companies. He has worked as the CEO of Konecranes in 2015–2019, and before that as the CEO of Ahlström Capital, among other things. At the moment, Mr Routila is a member of the board of several companies and organisations, such as Swedish Trelleborg plc and Turku Chamber of Commerce.
Faculty of Law Confers Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman and President of Supreme Administrative Court as Honorary Doctors
The Faculty of Law confers Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman Maija Sakslin and President of the Supreme Administrative Court Kari Kuusniemi as its honorary doctors.
Ms Maija Sakslin receives the title as a recognition for her long-term, effective work in promoting equality and realisation of social rights.
Mr Kari Kuusniemi is conferred as an honorary doctor as a recognition for his versatile and effective work in reshaping environmental law research and instigating dialogue about legal issues.
Faculty of Social Sciences Confers Professor of Government and Editor-in-chief of Turun Sanomat Newspaper
The Faculty of Social Sciences confers Professor Robert E. Goodin from University of Essex and Editor-in-chief of Turun Sanomat newspaper Riitta Monto.
Professor Robert E. Goodin receives the title of honorary doctor as a recognition for his internationally renowned and pioneering work as a scholar of political theory and advocator of analytical and neutral argumentation.
Ms Riitta Monto is conferred as an honorary doctor as a recognition for her actions in promoting tolerance and understanding in society and maintaining versatile public debate.
Honorary Doctors of the Faculty of Education Are Professor of Educational Work and Pioneer in International Assessment of Education
The Faculty of Education confers Professor Lisbeth Lundahl from Umeå University and Professor Emeritus Jouni Välijärvi from the University of Jyväskylä as its honorary doctors.
Professor Lisbeth Lundahl is one of the most respected professionals in international comparative educational research and has participated in several research projects that compare national education policies with those of multinational organisations. She has concentrated on studying change in education policies and management, rise of the economic ideology, and privatisation of education.
Professor Emeritus Jouni Välijärvi has worked as Professor of Education, Director of Finnish Institute for Educational Research, and as the national coordinator of OECD’s PISA assessment programme. Furthermore, he has been a member and chair of several educational expert groups in the OECD, EU, Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, National Board of Education, Association of Finnish Municipalities, and Trade Union of Education in Finland.
More Information:
Communications Coordinator Liisa Reunanen, University Communications, tel. 050 339 4750, lereun@utu.fi