At the 60th anniversary degree ceremonies of the Turku School of Economics, eight honorary doctorates and 41 doctorates will be conferred. The degree ceremonies will be the fifth by the Turku School of Economics, and the first since it merged with the University of Turku.
The eight people being conferred with honorary doctorates represent the fields of both science and business. They are all significant actors in their fields, have contributed to the success of the Turku School of Economics in different ways, and have engaged in active co-operation with the School.
The traditions of degree conferment have their roots in the ceremonies of the medieval university emphasising self-administration. The Finnish word meaning 'degree conferment', promootio, comes from the Latin verb ‘promovere’, meaning to move forward, promote and elevate. The degree conferment ceremonies, which represent the continuity of academic tradition, symbolise the bond linking modern science and higher education to older European education.
The degree ceremonies comprise the Sword Sharpening Display, the Conferment Ceremony, the Academic Procession, the Conferment Church Service, the Conferment Banquet and Ball and a boat trip. Professor Antti Paasio will act as Conferrer.
The degree ceremonies
Thursday 13 May
Sword sharpening display
The degree ceremonies will begin at 6.00 pm on Thursday 13 May with the sword sharpening display in the festival hall of the Turku School of Economics.
The swords of the doctors and honorary doctors will be sharpened on the grindstone of the Vanhalinna Manor House and Museum, which belongs to the University of Turku. The marshals will christen the grindstone with sparkling wine.
After a welcoming speech by Ulla Hakala D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus.Adm), the programme will include two further speeches. Head Marshal, Pasi Malinen D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus.Adm) will talk about the tradition of sword sharpening and Hannu Makonen D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus.Adm) will address the sword itself. After the sword sharpening, there will be musical performances followed by dinner.
Friday 14 May
Laying of Wreaths at the cemetery 9.00 am
The actual day of degree conferment will begin on Friday morning at Turku's old cemetery, where representatives of the doctors will lay wreaths, led by the Conferrer. The doctors will lay wreaths at the graves of the deceased luminaries of the Turku School of Economics who are buried in Turku, Chancellor Niilo Ikola and Rectors Unto Virtanen and Veikko Halme.
The Conferment Ceremony at Turku Concert Hall, 12 noon
The Conferment Ceremony begins with an entrance procession, which will include the Rector of the University of Turku, the Director of the Turku School of Economics, the Conferrer and the doctors and honorary doctors upon whom degrees will be conferred. The programme will include speeches by the Rector of the University of Turku, Keijo Virtanen, the Director of the Turku School of Economics, Satu Lähteenmäki and the Conferrer, Antti Paasio. The Doctoral Question to the Primus Doctor will be posed by Master of Ceremonies, Heli Marjanen, and the reply to the Doctoral Question will be given by Primus Doctor, Mélanie Raukko. If the scientific community accepts the reply given, the conferral of doctors will then begin, with the honorary doctors and doctors each in turn receiving the symbols of their doctoral degree: a hat, a sword and a degree certificate. The Honorary Doctor’s speech will be made by Seppo Honkapohja, a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Finland. The event will also include music related to the conferment ceremony, including the Conferment Cantata of the Turku School of Economics.
Academic Procession from the Concert Hall to Turku Cathedral at about 2.30 pm
The Academic Procession will march along Aninkaistenkatu to the Cathedral. The procession will include the Rector of the University of Turku, the Director of the Turku School of Economics, the Conferrer, the honorary doctors and doctors upon whom degrees have been conferred, the Vice Rectors of the university, rectors of other universities, professors of TSE, other members of staff and the spouses/partners of those taking part in the ceremonies. At the head of the procession will be mounted police officers, flags and the Master of Ceremonies. Anyone who wishes may come to watch the procession along the street or in Cathedral Square.
Church Service at the Cathedral at about 3.00 pm
The Conferment Church Service will be presided over by Archbishop Jukka Paarma. In addition to friends and relatives of the doctors, anyone who wishes may attend the Church Service. Those who participated in the procession will sit in the cathedral in seats specially reserved for them.
Conferment Banquet and Ball in Turku Castle 7.00 pm
During breaks in eating, the following speeches will be given at the Conferment Banquet:
- Declaration of the beginning of the Banquet, Master of Ceremonies Heli Marjanen
- Speech to the School, Maarit Laiho D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.)
- Reply by the School, Director Satu Lähteenmäki
- Speech to the Conferrer, Leena Haanpää D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.)
- Reply by the Conferrer, Conferrer Antti Paasio
- Speech to the Honorary Doctors, Jussi Hätönen D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.)
- Honorary Doctor’s reply, Honorary Doctor Nicole Coviello
- Speech to the young doctors, Kari Lukka D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.)
- Young doctors’ reply, Reetta Raitoharju D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.)
- Speech to the women, Pekka Koskinen D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.)
- Speech to the rising sun, Aki Koponen D.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.)
The conferment speeches will be published after the event at the TSE website www.tse.fi/degree_ceremonies
Saturday 15 May
Boat trip on M/S Ukkopekka 10.00 am - 1.00 pm
The honorary doctors of the Turku School of Economics 2010
Based on scientific merit, honorary doctorates will be conferred on the following:
Professor Nicole Coviello, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
Professor Dian Marie Hosking, the University of Utrecht and the University of Tilburg, the Netherlands
Professor Kenneth A. Merchant, USC Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, USA
Professor Slavica Singer, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia
Based on their achievements in business, honorary doctorates will be conferred on the following:
Seppo Honkapohja, Member of the board of directors, Bank of Finland
Reijo Karhinen, CEO of OP-Pohjola Group, Honorary Counsellor
Lasse Kurkilahti, Honorary Counsellor
Hans Langh, Managing Director of Oy Langh Ship Ab, Honorary Counsellor
Further information of honorary doctorates can also be found at the TSE website www.tse.fi/degree_ceremonies.
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Representatives of the media are welcome to follow the proceedings. The sword-sharpening display at 6.00 pm on 13 May is a good opportunity to meet the honorary doctors and other doctors upon whom degrees are being conferred.
If reporters or photographers wish to participate in any of the festivities, they are kindly requested to register in advance no later than Wednesday 12 May with the Communications Unit of the Turku School of Economics, tel. 050 336 2393 or viestinta(a)tse.fi.
Further information about the practical arrangements for the ceremony is available from Education and Research Secretary, Birgit Haanmäki, tel. 050 553 2927.
Information about the proceedings can also be found at the TSE website www.tse.fi/degree_ceremonies