Viestintä, brändi ja markkinointi

Contacts

Conferment Committee

Rector Minna Martikainen
Vice-Rector Mika Grundström
Professor Emerita Pirjo Laaksonen
Professor Tommi Sottinen
Professor Panu Kalmi
Professor  Peter Gabrielsson 
University Lecturer Kirsi Lehto
Head of Reseach Services Virpi Juppo 
Secretary General, Student Union Lauri Tuohiniemi 
Executive Assistant Emmi Karjaluoto
Alumni Relations Coordinator Nina Jokiaho 

Contacts 
Conferment Ceremony Coordinator Nina Jokiaho
promootio@uwasa.fi
 

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Programme

The festivities last three days and include several events. The rehearsal of the Conferment Ceremony and the Sword-Whetting Ceremony take place on Thursday 19 September. The events on the actual conferment day, Friday 20 September, include the Act of Conferment, a festive procession to the Conferment Service/Secular Event, Gala Dinner, and Conferment Ball. The festivities end on Saturday 21 September with a relaxing excursion to the seaside.

NOTE! All times are still tentative and subject to changes!

Thursday 19 September

14.30 Dance rehearsals

16.30 Coffee

17.00  Rehearsal of Conferment Ceremony,  University of Vaasa, Levón auditorium 

The programme continues immediately after rehearsals with the Dinner and the Sword-Whetting Ceremony,   University of Vaasa, Restaurant Mathilda 

Friday 20 September

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12.00 Conferment Ceremony,  University of Vaasa, Levón auditorium

15.00 Academic Procession  

15.30 Conferment Service, Vaasa Church OR Secular Event, Vaasa City Hall

19.00 Gala Dinner, University of Vaasa

23.00 Confernment Ball, Vaasa City Hall

Saturday 21 September

11.30 Maaherran talo /governors house

12.30 restaurant Strampen 

Lunch
Music by pop kantele diva Ida Elina 

15.00 Opportunity for interested to explore the Kuntsi Museum

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Hire an intern

We will support you financially when you hire a student for an internship.

If your organisation has a project that is lacking someone to work on it, an intern could be the solution. By hiring an intern, you will be able to benefit from the latest industry knowledge, new insights and ideas to improve your operations. At best, the intern will bring their experiences from the competences required at work to the development of the education.

The intern can, for example, carry out different kinds of surveys, polls or other activities that benefit your organisation. The intern’s duties should be such that the student can make use of the knowledge and skills acquired during their studies. The internship should also enable the student to learn new things.

Internships can often be the first step towards a longer-term employment relationship. Be sure to also remember our international talents who not only contribute their skills but also their cultural capital. A diverse and multicultural work community fosters creativity.

You can contact us at harjoittelu@uwasa.fi.

Tips for a successful internship

Before the internship

1. Plan suitable tasks for the intern and make sure that the intern has a supervisor. The internship should last at least three months, and the intern should be paid at least 1430€/month for full-time work.

2. You can easily publish a call for applications on the JobTeaser platform.

3. You will select the most suitable applicant for the internship. The selected intern will contact the university’s career services to draw up an internship contract. 

4. The University of Vaasa will draw up the internship contract which will be signed by the employer, a representative of the university and the intern. For the internship contract, you will be asked to provide information about the internship place, contact person, supervisor, duration of the internship, salary and duties.

5. You will also draw up a standard employment contract with the intern. 

During the internship

Make sure that the intern receives an adequate induction to their tasks so that the experience is rewarding for both of you. The assigned supervisor will advise the intern on the duties, go over the intern’s goals as well as be available and talk to the intern regularly during the internship. During the internship, the employer will be bound by the normal obligations of the employer.

After the internship

The intern will receive a certificate of employment from the employer. If the internship is supported by the university, the employer will invoice the university for the amount indicated in the internship contract at the end of the internship.

Financial support for the internship

When you hire a student for an internship, you may be eligible for financial support from the university. The internship will be agreed in advance with the university, and the financial support will be paid to the employer at the end of the internship.

Conditions for receiving financial support

  • The internship lasts at least three months.
  • The intern receives salary at least 1430€/month for full-time work (year 2025).
  • The internship takes place in Finland, and the employer is an organisation in the private, third or public sector.
  • For internships abroad, support may be granted if the employer is a Finnish public sector organisation.

Amount of financial support

The support usually amounts to €1,800 per internship. If you hire an international student as an intern, the support amount we pay is €3,600.

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About the Ceremonies

The Conferment Ceremonies emphasise the high value of education. Those who have completed their doctoral degree receive the insignia associated with the doctoral status - the hat, the sword and the diploma - in the degree ceremony. In Finnish, the ceremonies are called ‘promootio’. It comes from the Latin word ‘promovere’: to move forwards, to advance, to promote. The insignia are also bestowed upon distinguished individuals who are designated as Honorary Doctors.

The tradition of the conferment ceremony comes from the early Middle Ages. Conferment ceremonies have been arranged in Finland for more than 350 years; the tradition has continued uninterrupted since the first conferment ceremony was organized in the Academy of Turku in 1643. Traditions have significant role in the conferment ceremony, and many of the forms of the ceremonies have remained unchanged. Yet the ceremony is not set in stone; it changes through time and with its organising university, making it a unique event each time.

Doctoral Hat

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The hat was a symbol of a free and independent man already in ancient Rome. In universities the doctoral hat is a symbol of freedom of research. The Finnish doctoral hat looks like a top hat. The colour of the hat indicates the field of science; violet: theology, burgundy: law, green: medicine, tricolour blue: arts, and dark blue: physical education. All other fields of science, and all the fields of science at the University of Vaasa, have black hats.

The hats are hand-made according to individual measurements. The golden emblem attached to the velvet band of the hat also indicates the university or the field of science. University of Vaasa has its own emblem for the whole university. The emblem is designed by Juhani Vepsäläinen.

Doctoral Sword

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Thedoctoral sword is a symbolic weapon of the spirit in search for and in defense of truth. The sword used at the ceremonies is Finland's official civilian sword. It comes with a scabbard and a black or golden holder. The university's golden symbol will also be on the sword. The person's name and the date of the Conferment Ceremony are etched on the sword. The sword is traditionally carried on the left side.

Conferments of Doctoral Degrees at the University of Vaasa

The Universtity of Vaasa has so far arranged five Conferment Ceremonies. The first Master's and Doctoral Conferenment Ceremony took place in 1988, when the university celebrated its 20th anniversary. On that occasion 7 honorary doctors 10 doctors and 188 masters's were conferred.  

The second Master's and Doctoral Conferment Ceremony took place in 1998, as the university celebrated its 30th anniversary.  8 honorary doctors, 31 doctors and 90 masters were conferred. 

The third Conferment Ceremony was part of the City of Vaasas 400th anniversary in the year 2006.  12 honorary doctors and 60 doctors were conferred. 

The fourth Conferment Ceremony took place in 2011. 10 honorary doctors and 43 doctors were conferred. 

The fifth Conferment Ceremony took place in 2018, as part of the university's 50th anniversary celebrations. 9 honorary doctors and 74 doctors were conferred. 

ABC of Conferement Ceremonies

Act of Conferment
The actual conferment of degrees and the granting of Honorary Doctor's titles are parts of a festive act of conferment. Speeches and music play an important role in the festivities.

Conferment Book
The conferment book is published before the ceremonies. The book includes short CVs and information of the doctors and honorary doctors.

Conferment Officials
The Conferment officials are the Conferrers of Degrees, the Master of Ceremonies and the Head Marshal.

Conferment Service OR Secular Event 
Takes place after the act of conferment. Participants choose's one of the events. 

Conferrer of Degrees
A senior professor of each faculty chosen to act as the Conferrer of Degrees.

Excursion to the seaside
An informal excursion on the day after the conferment.

Doctoral hat
The symbol of the freedom of research.

Doctoral sword
The symbol of a weapon of the spirit: to battle for what has been scientifically researched and discovered as true, right and good.

Head Marshal
Conducts the ceremonies with the Master of Ceremonies. Trains and supervises the marshals working in the Degree Ceremony.

Honorary Doctor
The University honours distinguished scientists or influential members of society with the award of an Honorary Doctorate.

Marshals
Students/university employees assisting the Master of Ceremonies and the Head Marshal.

Master of Ceremonies
Professor conducting the ceremonies.

Primus/Prima
The first young doctor to be conferred in the ceremony. Usually chosen according to his/her excellent merits in the field of research.

Promovendi
The Latin name for the doctors who will be awarded degrees in the ceremony.

Sword-whetting
Honorary doctors and doctors whet their swords with the assistance of their companion or a marshal. Whetting is performed with a grindstone damped with sparkling wine.

Gala Dinner and Ball
A gala dinner with speeches and music is arranged on the evening after the act of conferment. After the dinner, there is a ball with old academic dances. The ball ends to a speech to the rising sun.

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