The University of Jyväskylä’s Conferment of Degrees celebrations will be visible in the city on Saturday
Eleven distinguished figures in public life as well as individuals merited in science and research will be conferred honorary doctorates. Among them are Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Henna Virkkunen, Chair of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Docent Susanna Pettersson, and Professor Eero Vaara. The President of the Republic, Alexander Stubb, will be conferred an honorary doctorate in absentia.
The prima master is Master of Science Prabha Kumarage, the ultima master is Master of Health Sciences Leila Kulju, the prima doctor is Doctor of Education Elina Hämäläinen, and the ultimus doctor is Doctor of Philosophy Giovanni Covi. Conferment coordinator Emmi-Noora Roos is responsible for the arrangements of the Conferment of Degrees Ceremony.
Procession will close Kauppakatu
After the Act of Conferment, more than 370 participants will take part in the Conferment Procession proceeding from the university’s Main Building to the City Church. The sermon at the conferment service will be delivered by Bishop Matti Salomäki. Festum Scientiae, a non-denominational event, will be held at the City Hall, where the ceremonial speech will be given by Professor Jari Kaukua.
The Conferment Procession will affect traffic on Kauppakatu on Saturday approximately from 14:15 to 15:00.
The procession will depart from the university’s Main Building at 14:30.
The route of the procession runs through Seminaarinmäki and continues onto Seminaarinkatu. From there, the procession proceeds to Kauppakatu, crossing Vaasankatu and Cygnaeuksenkatu. Traffic on both streets will be halted for approximately 15 minutes as the procession advances, and they will be reopened to traffic as soon as the procession has passed.
In addition to these arrangements, traffic on Kauppakatu will, if necessary, be diverted away from the route. Traffic control will be in place at the intersection of Kilpisenkatu and Kauppakatu. There will also be traffic control on Kauppakatu and Yliopistonkatu to ensure safety.
The public is welcome to follow the procession from the pedestrian and cycling paths on both sides of Kauppakatu.
The procession will be led by the Master of Ceremonies, Postdoctoral Researcher Anna-Maria Raita, followed by the Conferrer of Degrees, Professor Jaakko Pehkonen, the newly conferred honorary doctors, doctors and masters, the Rector, the University Board, professors, the Head Marshal, Associate Professor Mikko Huhtiniemi, the Ceremonial Garland Weaver Elsa Greenlees, and other garland weavers.
In addition to the Act of Conferment and the procession, the Saturday celebrations include a gala dinner and ball at Paviljonki. The evening before, master promovendi prepare for the Conferment at the Garland Weaving Dinner in Agora, and doctor promovendi at the Sword Sharpening Dinner in Ruusupuisto.
On Sunday, 24 May, a Conferment cruise will be held on Lake Päijänne.
