With some changes and adaptations, conferment ceremonies have been part of Finnish academic traditions throughout the centuries. It is rare for any festive ceremony to remain largely unchanged since the early days of its inception. Conferment ceremonies are indeed a prime example of truly well-preserved intangible cultural heritage. The tradition of confirming master’s degrees was added to the Finnish National Inventory of Living Heritage in 2017.
Conferment ceremonies date back to the Middle Ages: The universities of Bologna and Paris held such ceremonies as early as the 13th century. At the University of Helsinki, formerly the Academy of Turku from 1640 to 1827 and the Imperial Alexander University of Finland from 1827 to 1918, the practice of holding conferment ceremonies was established early, as the first ceremonial conferment of degrees was held by the Faculty of Philosophy in 1643, only three years after the founding of the Academy. Since then, the tradition has continued almost uninterrupted and has been adopted by other faculties and universities. The conferment ceremony of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Helsinki continues to be the largest such ceremony in Finland.
At the Academy of Turku, the conferment ceremonies of the Faculty of Philosophy were celebrated in an almost unchanged manner as one-day events for conferring only master’s degrees until the early 19th century. The ceremony began with a get-together at the conferrer’s home, from where the graduands walked in a procession to the Academy building to be conferred with their degrees by the conferrer. Many features of present-day conferment ceremonies, such as processions and the ceremonial question presented to the highest ranking master graduand, were already present in these early ceremonies. The symbolism related to conferment ceremonies has also been preserved unchanged throughout the centuries. For instance, the laurel wreath served as the symbol of the achievements of master’s graduates already in the 18th century. Likewise, the ceremony itself continues to start with the conferrer’s speech and end with the speech by the second highest ranking graduand. The conferment festivities included three events: the ceremony of conferring degrees, a church service and a banquet. The Academy operated in modest settings and degrees were conferred on men only.
In the 19th century, the University played a central role in society with conferment ceremonies and other academic festivities being almost the only public celebrations in the Grand Duchy of Finland. These festivities offered the political elite and educated class an opportunity to get together at a time of underdeveloped media and long distances. Consequently, conferment ceremonies had great social and national significance. In the course of the 19th century, the conferment ceremony traditions acquired many features that have survived to date, such as the conferment of jubilee masters and the conferment of doctoral degrees at the same ceremony with the conferment of master’s degrees. In the 1850s singing the national anthem of Finland became an established part of the ceremonies, and in the 1870s, the duration of the celebrations stretched to three or four days. New events were added, such as the conferment ball in the 1880s, when a perfect venue became available with the completion of a new student building (today known as the Old Student House). This also meant that conferment ceremonies attracted more participants and evolved into grand social events. The history of these ceremonies is well known because the press covered them extensively.
Specifically Finnish features
Gradually the practice of conferring master’s degrees at conferment ceremonies died out in other countries while in Finland the festivities developed features of their own. One uniquely Finnish speciality is the selection of the ceremonial or official wreath weaver (originally wreath weaveress). Master's conferment ceremonies in Helsinki were already seen in the 1840s as a Finnish tradition that strengthened Finnish national identity. At the same time, master's conferment ceremonies had already disappeared from universities in many other countries, but in Finland, the academic conferment festivities and their symbols were associated with patriotism and therefore preserved. During the Faculty of Philosophy's 1850 conferment ceremony, the song Vårt land ("Our Land") was sung at the end of the conferment act for the first time, becoming an established part of the conferment programme. At the same time, because of the nationalistic spirit, the whole tradition was threatened by the tense relations between the Russian regime and the Finns. In fact, the arrangement of conferment ceremonies was possible only with the consent of the Russian Emperor.
Once Finland became independent, the tradition could continue uninterrupted. The first ceremonial conferment of degrees in the newly independent Finland took place in 1919. After the Second World War, there was an altogether 14-year break in arranging conferment ceremonies; the previous break of equal duration goes back to the 18th century and the time of the Great Northern War. After such a long pause the arrangements proved challenging, for the many minute details of the ceremony were almost forgotten. This gave rise to the practice of putting together a commemorative publication of each conferment ceremony held. In the 1970s the conferment of degrees was considered old-fashioned and elitist, and the ceremonies became more low-key. However, in the 1980s attitudes changed, and conferment ceremonies rose to new heights in popularity.
Conferment ceremonies have their roots in European academic traditions, but developed into a specifically Finnish cultural phenomenon. Throughout the centuries, it has been agreed that celebrating the achievements of master's and doctoral graduates in a splendid manner is part and parcel of academic life. The tradition of conferment ceremonies has been considered to be a valuable component of Finnish academia, retaining its vigour even through difficult times. Yet, the tradition has evolved in new directions as each ceremony and its organising committee have attempted to add a new touch to the centuries-old ritual.
The first Finnish Doctor of Medicine to be conferred was Johan Haartman, known as the father of Finnish medicine. He was conferred at the University of Uppsala’s conferment ceremony in 1755.
The first medical conferment ceremony in Finland was held at the Academy of Turku in 1781, with Haartman himself serving as the Conferrer. After the Great Fire of Turku and the relocation of the university to Helsinki, the first medical conferment ceremony in Helsinki was held in 1832. Among those conferred at that ceremony was Elias Lönnrot, whose doctoral thesis focused on Finnish magical folk medicine.
In addition to a favourable societal atmosphere, a significant anniversary has often acted as a trigger for organising a conferment ceremony. In 1990, the University of Helsinki celebrated its 350th anniversary, and the spring 2000 conferment ceremony marked the turn of the millennium. In the 2010 conferment ceremony, 72 new doctors were conferred: 60 Doctors of Medicine and Surgery, 3 Doctors of Dental Science, and 9 Doctors of Philosophy. In addition, 15 international and 3 domestic Honorary Doctors were conferred, along with 10 Jubilee Doctors who had completed their doctorates at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki in 1960. The 2016 conferment ceremony conferred 119 new doctors and 14 Jubilee Doctors. The insignia of the Doctor of Medicine and Surgery were presented to 103 physicians who had earned their doctoral degrees in the Faculty of Medicine, the insignia of the Doctor of Dental Science to 4 doctors, and the insignia of the Doctor of Philosophy to 12 doctors.
A well-established feature of the Faculty of Medicine’s conferment ceremony is the Honorary Doctor Symposium, in which leading researchers in their fields present their work to the university community.
Doctors of Medicine and Doctors of Dental Science who have completed their doctoral degrees at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Helsinki wear a green doctoral hat. Doctors of Philosophy and Doctors of Psychology who have completed their doctorates at the Faculty of Medicine wear a black doctoral hat. Both the green and black hats are decorated with the faculty’s emblem (cockade), featuring the Staff of Asclepius inside a laurel wreath. For those who completed their doctorates before 1966, the hat colour was black.
1743 Conferment in Absentia by Royal Decree
1. 21.6.1781
2, 14.6.1802
3. 10.11.1817
4. 20.6.1832
5. 18.7.1840
6. 21.6.1847
1860 a promulgated conferment
1882 a jubilee doctor conferment
7. 30.5.1907
8. 31.5.1919
9. 16.9.1966
10. 29.5.1981
11. 8.6.1990
1992 tiedekunnan juhlaistunto
12. 12.5.2000
13. 4.6.2010
14. 10.6.2016
15. 10.6.2022
1.10.1743
Johannes Ekelund was conferred in absentia by royal decree. After the end of the Lesser Wrath, Ekelund had moved to St Petersburg with the Russian troops to work as a physician at the military hospital, where he died, never returning to Turku to receive his doctoral degree. Being conferred as a doctor by royal grace was, according to the statutes of the higher professional faculties, the only way to obtain a doctoral degree domestically before the 19th century. Conferment by royal decree is comparable to today’s honorary doctorates, as doctoral degrees were not granted to those merely pursuing them but as a token of appreciation to individuals who had attained a significant position.
21.6.1781
Anders Johan Hagström, City Surgeon of Stockholm, was conferred in absentia by grace of the Chancellor.
18.7.1840
Johan Gadolin, Professor of Chemistry, discoverer of yttrium and gadolinium.
In addition, Christian Aejmelaeus, who had previously been conferred at Uppsala, was conferred as a Jubilee Doctor.
31.5.1860
A promulgation conferment, in which no ceremony was held; instead, the conferrer, with the approval of the chancellor, published a conferment book declaring the named individuals Doctors of Medicine and Surgery. A total of 31 doctors.
31.5.1882
The conferment of Jubilee Doctors for those originally conferred in 1832 and for three surviving doctors. Dean F. J. von Becker published the conferment register for the promulgation conferment. The first Jubilee Doctors in the history of the University:
Wilhelm Granlund, born 1795, Vaasa.
Fredrik Gabriel J. Sanmark, born 1798, Turku.
Elias Lönnrot, born 1802, Sammatti.
1.5.1917
The conferment of Jubilee Doctors for those originally conferred in 1860 and for the doctors still living. The conferrer was Professor Robert Tigerstedt.
Jubilee Doctors of Medicine and Surgery:
Anders Thiodolf Saelan
Alexander Krogerus
Johan Nathanael Toppelius
Lorenzo Runeberg
31.5.1919
Frans Viktor Heikel, University gymnastics instructor and pioneer of Finnish physical education.
Edvard Immanuel Hjelt, Professor of Organic Chemistry.
Matti Anselmi Äyräpää, developer of Finnish dentistry.
16.9.1966
Sergei Victorovich Anitchkov, Professor of Pharmacology and member of the Academy of Medicine, Leningrad, Soviet Union.
Franz Földvári, Professor of Dermatology, Budapest, Hungary.
Harald Gormsen, Professor of Forensic Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sir Alexander Haddow, Professor of Experimental Pathology, London, United Kingdom.
Johan Erik Jorpes, Professor of Medical Chemistry, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Eino Klemens Kaskimies, Bursar of the University of Helsinki.
Theodor Hermann Koller, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Basel, Switzerland.
Gabriel Langfeldt, Professor of Psychiatry, Oslo, Norway.
Ernst Ragnar Lydén, Assistant in Chemistry, University of Helsinki.
Aimo Niilo Puolanne (formerly Spolander), Faculty Registrar, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki.
Bror Anders Rexed, Professor of Anatomy, Uppsala, Sweden.
Karl Albert Max Schuchardt, Professor of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
Sulo Ilmari Toivonen, Professor of Experimental Zoology, University of Helsinki.
Paul Alfred Weiss, Emeritus Professor of Developmental Biology, Rockefeller Institute, United States.
Carl Sölve Halvard Welin, Professor of Radiology, Lund, Sweden.
Helge Bertil Wulff, Professor of Surgery, Lund, Sweden.
29.5.1981
Carl Gunnar Wilhelm Biörck, Stockholm, Sweden.
John Francis Fowler, Middlesex, United Kingdom.
Sven Axel Högström, Chief Judge.
Leo Artur Kaprio, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Martti Juhani Karvonen, Surgeon General, Professor.
Hilary Koprowski, Pennsylvania, United States.
Zbigniew J. Lipowski, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States.
Victor Almon McKusick, Johns Hopkins Hospital, United States.
Haakon Valde Natvig, Oslo, Norway.
Jens Jörgen Pindborg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Atso Ilmari Soivio, Chief Physician of the Finnish Red Cross Plastic Surgery Hospital.
Mitrofan J. Studenikin, researcher on the advancement of neonatal and social childcare, Moscow, Soviet Union.
Rudolf Zenker, Professor of Surgery, Munich, Germany.
8.6.1990
David Baltimore, Boston, United States.
Per-Ingvar Brånemark, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Britton Chance, Philadelphia, United States.
Ihsan Doğramacı, Ankara, Turkey.
Torsten Gordh, Stockholm, Sweden.
Scott M. Grundy, Dallas, United States.
Heinrich Häfner, Mannheim, Germany.
Esko Koivusalo, Finnish Language, University of Helsinki.
Timo Nieminen, inventor of the X-ray device.
Örjan Ouchterlony, Gothenburg, Sweden; humanitarian work in Finland during 1939–1945.
Ruth Sanger, pioneer in blood group research, London, United Kingdom.
Nils-Erik Saris.
Edward J. Walaszek, Kansas City, United States.
18.9.1992
A Faculty ceremonial meeting held in honour of the centenary of Dentistry, at which honorary doctorates were conferred.
Jouko Tuomaala, Licentiate of Dental Surgery, collector of the Dental Museum collections.
Robert Frank, Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery, University of Strasbourg, France.
Harald Löe, Director of the US National Institute of Dental Research, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, United States.
Birgit Thilander, Professor of Orthodontics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
12.5.2000
Claes Andersson, specialist in psychiatry, author, jazz musician, minister.
C. Wayne Bardin, Director of the Biomedical Research Center, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States.
Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, Professor of Epidemiology, University of California, San Diego, California, United States.
J. Michael Bishop, Professor of Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States. Nobel Laureate in Medicine, 1989.
Vittorio Defendi, Professor of Pathology, New York University, New York, United States.
Mahmoud Fathalla, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Assiut University, Egypt.
Scott F. Gilbert, Professor of Developmental Biology, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, United States.
Lorne Golub, Professor of Dentistry, Stony Brook University, New York, United States.
Ivor Kramer, Professor of Oral Pathology, Institute of Dental Surgery, United Kingdom.
Pierre Lefebvre, Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Liège, Belgium.
Olli Lounasmaa, Professor of Technical Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, founder of the Low Temperature Laboratory.
César Milstein, Biochemist, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Nobel Laureate in Medicine, 1984.
Erna Möller, Professor of Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Svante Pääbo, Director of the Department of Genetics, Max Planck Institute, Leipzig, Germany. Nobel Laureate in Medicine, 2022.
Pertti Törmälä, Professor of Biomaterials Technology, Tampere University of Technology, Academy of Finland Research Professor.
John Guy Widdicombe, Professor of Physiology, University of London, United Kingdom.
Harald Zur Hausen, Professor of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany. Nobel Laureate in Medicine, 2008.
4.6.2010
Elisabetta Dejana, Professor of General Pathology, Molecular Oncology Institute, Milan, Italy.
Raija Etelävuori, Administrative Director Emerita, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki.
Carl-Henrik Heldin, Professor of Molecular Cell Biology, Uppsala, Sweden.
King K. Holmes, Professor of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States.
Marilyn A. Huestis, Professor of Chemistry and Drug Metabolism, University of Maryland, Maryland, United States.
Sir Alec Jeffreys, Professor of Genetics, University of Leicester, United Kingdom.
Sir Michael Marmot, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, United Kingdom.
Douglas A. Melton, Professor of Natural Sciences, Harvard, United States.
Erika von Mutius, Professor of Paediatrics, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
Risto Näätänen, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Tartu, Estonia.
Lars Peterson, Professor of Orthopaedics, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Arvo Relander, Hospital Counsellor.
Sir Michael Rutter, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, King’s College London, United Kingdom.
Alan L. Schwartz, Professor of Paediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, United States.
Crispian Scully, Professor of Oral Medicine, University of London, United Kingdom.
Thorkild I. A. Sørensen, Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Robert A. Weinberg, Professor of Cancer Research, MIT, United States.
Hans Wigzell, Professor Emeritus of Immunology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
10.6.2016
Philippe de Moerloose, sisäelinlääketieteen professori, Geneven yliopisto, Sveitsi.
Michel Eichelbaum, kliinisen farmakologian professori emeritus, Tübingenin yliopisto, Saksa.
Deborah Greenspan, orofacial sciences, suu- ja nenäsairausten professori, UCSF, Yhdysvallat.
Sten-Olof Hansén, kansainvälisen liiketalouden professori emeritus, Turun kauppakorkeakoulu.
Ari Helenius, biokemian professori, Zürichin teknillinen korkeakoulu, Sveitsi.
Aki Lindén, HUS:n toimitusjohtaja.
Päivi Sillanaukee, Sosiaali- ja terveysministeriön kansliapäällikkö
Karl Tryggvason, Diabetestutkimuksen professori, Singaporen kansallinen yliopisto, Singapore.
Andras Nagy, kehitysbiologian professori, Toronton yliopisto, Kanada
10.6.2022
Rinaldo Bellomo, Professor of Intensive Care, The University of Melbourne, and Professor of Medicine, Monash University; Director of Intensive Care Research, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, and Director of Data Analytics Research and Evaluation (DARE) Centre; Senior Research Advisor, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Monash University and Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Dorret Boomsma, Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Professor Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
Ricardo Della Coletta, Professor in Oral Pathology and Genetics, Department of Oral Diagnosis, FOP-UNICAMP at the School of Dentistry, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Brazil
Gordon H. Guyatt, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact and the Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Canada
Sir John Hardy, Professor of Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease at the Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies, The University College London (UCL), UK
Risto Ilmoniemi, Aalto Professor (Technical Physics) and Head of the Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, School of Science, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland.
Trudie Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Medical Education, Leeds Institute of Medical Education, University of Leeds, UK
Ulla-Marja Urho, Master of Agriculture and Forestry, Chair of the Board of HUS (Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District) 2009–2021, Helsinki, Finland.
Dieter Wolke, Professor of Developmental Psychology and Individual Differences, Department of Psychology, and at the Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
Ramnik J. Xavier, Kurt Isselbacher Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Core member, Broad Institute and Director of the Center for Computational and Integrative Biology and Core faculty in the Department of Molecular Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
1743 Herman Dietrich Spöring, conferred in absentia by royal decree
1781 Johan Haartman, Professor of Medicine
1802 Gabriel Erik Haartman, Professor of Anatomy, Surgery and Veterinary Medicine
1817 Gabriel von Bonsdorff, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology
1832 Johan Agapetus Törngren, Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics
1840 Nils Abraham af Ursin, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology
1847 Immanuel Ilmoni, Professor of Theoretical and Practical Medicine
1860 Lars Henrik Törnroth, Professor Emeritus of Surgery and Midwifery, promulgation conferment
1882 Frans Josef von Becker, Professor of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, conferment of Jubilee Doctors
1907 Ernst Alexander Homén, Professor of Pathological Anatomy
1917 Robert Tigerstedt, Professor of Physiology, conferment of Jubilee Doctors
1919 Hjalmar Grönroos, Professor of Anatomy
1966 Martti Eero Kaila, Professor of Psychiatry
1981 Niilo Oskar Birger Hallman, Professor of Paediatrics
1990 Johan Järnefelt, Professor of Medical Chemistry
1992 Lauri Otto Saxén, Extraordinary Personal Professor of Experimental Pathology, faculty ceremonial meeting
2000 Markku Seppälä, Professor of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
2010 Leif C. Andersson, Professor of Pathological Anatomy
2016 Ari Harjula, Professor of Cardiac Surgery
2022 Annamari Ranki, Professor of Dermatology and Venereology
2027 Tomi Mäkelä, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
1966 prof. Nils Oker-Blom
1981 prof. Keijo Mattila
1990 prof. Mårten Wikström
2000 prof. Annamari Ranki
2010 prof. Elina Ikonen
2016 prof. Taina Autti
2022 prof. Kaija-Leena Kolho
1966 docent Eero Ikkala
1981 docent Kari Raivio
1990 docent Tom Krusius
2000 docent Ari Ristimäki
2010 docent Mervi Halttunen-Nieminen
2016 docent Tiina Heliö
2022 docent Saku Sinkkonen
1781 Gabriel Erik Haartman
1802 Jakob Edgren
1817 Nils Abraham Ursin
1832 Immanuel Ilmoni
1840 Evert Julius Bonsdorff
1847 Johan Wilhelm Engel
1907 Richard Faltin
1919 E. E. Enroth
1966 Reijo K. Vihko
1981 Kari K. Alitalo
1990 Juha K. Kere
2000 Erkki Kallio
2010 Pauliina Tuomikoski
2016 Riina Kandolin
2022 Markus Hyvärinen
1781 Emanuel Elfvenberg
1802 Jakob Lindebäck
1817 Carl Daniel von Haartman
1832 Carl Grönlund
1840 Erik Alexander Ingman
1847 Georg Wallgren
1907 Albert de la Chapelle
1919 Kaarlo Yrjö Agathon Meurman
1966 Kimmo Kalervo Mustakallio
1981 Jukka L. Rajantie
1990 Anne-Maria Suikkari
2000 Susanna Ranta
2010 Johan Marjamaa
2016 Miia Lehtinen
2022 Nelli Heikkilä
1781 Johan Haartman, Conferrer.
1802 Johan Fredrik Wallenius, Adjunct of Medicine and Demonstrator of Botany.
1817 Jakob Sundius, Adjunct of Clinical Medicine.
1832 Professor Johan Magnus af Tengström, Docent of Natural History.
1840 Sten Edvard Sjöman, Adjunct of Medicine.
1847 Immanuel Ilmoni, Conferrer.
1907 Hjalmar von Bonsdorff, Baron, Extraordinary Professor of Surgery.
1919 Professor W. Grönholm.
1966 Professor Johan Järnefelt.
1981 Professor Antti Vaheri.
1990 Professor Ilkka Kaitila.
2000 Professor Pekka Häyry.
2010 Docent Tomi Mikkola.
2016 Docent Jukka Lehtonen.
2022 Academy Professor Kari Alitalo & Associate Professor Riikka Kivelä.
1966 Bishop of Helsinki Aarre Lauha
1981 Archbishop Mikko Juva
1990 Docent Juhani Forsberg
2000 Dean of Helsinki Cathedral Mikko Heikka
2010 Bishop of Helsinki Eero Huovinen
2016 Bishop of Espoo Tapio Luoma
2022 Bishop of Helsinki Teemu Laajasalo
1966 Lauri Viljanen - Kärsiväkasvoinen (The Suffering Face)
1981 Einojuhani Rautavaara - Parantaja (The Healer).
The conferment festivities last four days, taking place at the turn of May and June. The dress code is very strict, with most events requiring white tie and evening dress.
Honorary Doctors in the spotlight on Wednesday
On Wednesday, the Honorary Doctor Symposium brings together conferment guests and other interested audiences to hear lectures from leading experts in their fields. Depending on the number of honorary doctors, the symposium may last half a day or a full day. An exhibition may also be arranged in connection with the symposium.
Rehearsals and evening events on Thursday
Thursday’s programme begins with rehearsals in the University’s Great Hall in the afternoon. The rehearsals are mandatory for all to be conferred (doctoral graduands, Jubilee Doctors, Honorary Doctors), but not for their companions. It is advisable to arrive already dressed for the evening’s events.
After the rehearsals, participants move on to the Rector’s Reception, where companions are also welcome. In the evening, the Dean’s Dinner or the Sword-Whetting Dinner is held, featuring several speeches. These carefully prepared multilingual speeches may address the speaker’s scientific field or current societal issues and are an essential part of the conferment tradition.
The Conferment Act – the main event
Friday marks the main event of the festivities: the Conferment Act, held in the University’s Great Hall. The Act is like a rehearsed play, following precise choreography as the graduands are conferred as doctors and receive the insignia of their academic degree. First, the graduands, their companions, and University representatives enter the hall in carefully arranged processions. After the Conferrer’s speech, the primus doctor is presented with a question related to their field of study, which they must answer. Once the answer is approved, the conferrals can begin. Each graduand ascends the podium to receive the symbols of their degree – the Conferrer presents them with the doctoral sword and doctoral hat.
Throughout the conferment, Finnish classical music is typically performed, and music plays an important role in the Act: the traditional repertoire includes at least Sibelius’s Conferment March and Andante Festivo. Often, new works (most commonly a conferment cantata) are commissioned and premiered at the Act.
The Act concludes with the ultimus doctor’s speech to the fatherland, after which the procession moves from the University’s Great Hall to Helsinki Cathedral for the conferment church service or alternatively to a secular service. These processions are a traditional element of academic celebrations, often drawing spectators to Senate Square.
Conferment Dinner on Friday evening
Friday evening concludes with the Conferment Dinner, which also features speeches – the most important being the speech to the University, to which the Rector responds.
In doctoral conferment ceremonies, traditional academic dances are held at the end of the Conferment Dinner. Guests also have the opportunity to dance traditional ballroom dances. Those wishing to participate in the group dances are encouraged to attend a dance course arranged specifically for the conferment.
Excursion day on Saturday
The festivities conclude with a luncheon excursion held in honour of the Conferrer. The excursion is organised by the graduands and may include, for example, a sailing trip or a visit to the Observatory.
The tradition of the conferment ceremony continues to flourish. In recent years, conferment committees have had no lack of volunteers and in the 2000s the ceremonies have attracted record numbers of participants. Currently the future of the conferment institution looks bright and secure, although it is possible that at some point, the tide will turn as it did in the 1970s and the ceremony will again be considered outdated, elitist and unsuitable for modern times.
Recent developments in the academic world can be seen as the greatest threats to the tradition of the conferment ceremony when the effects of cuts to funding for universities and students will become evident, not to mention the restrictions to the duration of studies. Because of the significance of conferment ceremonies to the academic community, universities support the arrangement of these ceremonies by providing funding and facilities for the festivities. As university finances tighten, financial support for conferment ceremonies will also decrease, which will result in higher participation fees and, consequently, lower participant numbers. Unfortunately, the general increase in prices can also be seen in the finances of conferment ceremonies. But on a more positive note, much welcomed partnerships with foundations and private donors wishing to support the tradition currently work to alleviate the situation.
The pressure to reduce the duration of studies and expedite graduation presents a challenge to students to actively participate in extracurricular activities and uphold academic traditions. Many of the special features of conferment ceremonies spring from Finnish student traditions that have become familiar to the participants during their studies, such as the annual celebrations of student nations and other student organisations. If students have fewer opportunities to participate in student activities, the future organisers of conferment ceremonies will not necessarily have the required solid knowledge of academic traditions.
Nevertheless, the conferment ceremony has persisted through almost 400 years of Finnish history marked by many wars, famines and political upheavals. It can safely be assumed that the tradition can maintain its vigour and continue to subsist in even challenging circumstances. The strength of the tradition is furthermore boosted by the fact that each conferment ceremony is able to adapt to its times. This is why it is important that conferment ceremonies are organised by the young generations themselves, for only they have an insight into which social symbols and phenomena need to be taken into account and thus put their own stamp on the tradition. Examples from the 21st century include the first young men selected as official wreath weavers and secular services held in parallel with conferment church services in all faculties. Often trends in history have first surfaced among the academic elite and then spread among the general public. The University itself follows phenomena in various fields and adapts to modern development while maintaining its strong identity and roots.
From the first conferment ceremony in 1643 up to the present, conferment ceremonies have not only been about scholarship and academic achievement, but also about poetry and jubilation. An event involving various art forms speaks of a community spirit spanning over generations, networking, voluntary work and the will to raise topical issues of social importance. For the community, the conferment ceremony is a recurring collective event, but for each individual participant it is a unique experience. A university that is aware of its past does not live in the past – the past lives on in us.