Hanken celebrated its thirteenth conferment of doctoral degrees
The first doctoral defence at Hanken took place in 1944. Currently, the aim is for an average of 14 doctoral students per year to complete their doctoral degree at Hanken.
- During recent years, more than half of our new doctoral researchers are international. Hanken is well known outside the borders of Finland for its research in business and economics, but increasingly also for contributions beyond the traditional realms of a business school; for instance, in the area of humanitarian logistics, said Rector Ingmar Björkman in his welcome speech.
At the same time, he emphasised how important it is that Hanken also educates PhDs who speak Swedish, which is crucial for the future of Swedish-speaking and bilingual universities in Finland.
In his speech, Conferrer Rune Stenbacka reflected on how automation and technologies based on artificial intelligence can be expected to affect the economy and labour market for highly educated human capital, such as newly graduated PhDs.
He noted that new technologies have created a world where we as individuals are subject to an unprecedented flood of influence and information - information produced and disseminated without respect for veracity.
- In such a world, the academic community has a special responsibility to contribute to holistic perspectives that detect ‘fake news’ and a holistic perspective that places reported facts in a theoretically and historically grounded context. A successful PhD programme develops the tools and mindsets to analytically and critically examine news and information flows presented in the media.
During the ceremony, the following honorary doctorates were conferred for academic merit: Professor Roderick Brodie, University of Auckland, Professor Rochelle Dreyfuss, New York University, Professor Lisa Ellram, Miami University, Professor Thomas Gehrig, Universität Wien and Professor Dean Shepherd, Notre Dame University.
The following honorary doctors were conferred for societal merit: Philip Aminoff, Chairman of the Board of Tenetor Oy Ab, Helvar Merca Oy Ab and Helectron B.V, Henrik Andersin, founder of the investment group Evli, Nicola Clase, Sweden's UN Ambassador and former Swedish Ambassador to Finland, Marianne Stenius, Professor Emerita of Finance and Investment and Rector Emerita of Hanken School of Economics.
Hanken's former rector Alf-Erik Lerviks and Christian Junnelius, who has been head of the consulting and research institute SIAR, were honoured with a jubilee doctor diploma since 50 years has passed since they received their doctoral degrees.
Read more about the honorary doctorates here:
Sweden's UN ambassador and business leaders among Hanken's honorary doctors
Link to the image gallery will be updated later.
Here, Honorary Doctor Nicola Clase, Sweden's UN Ambassador and former Swedish Ambassador to Finland, presents the greeting of the Honorary Doctors.
Text: Jessica Gustafsson and Marlene Günsberg
Photo: Vilhelm Sjöström