Ceremonial Conferment of Doctoral Degrees in Technology
Promovere: to move forward, promote, further
The Finnish word for conferment, promootio, comes from the Latin verb promovere: to promote, to move forward. In the past, a person for instance only obtained the right to speak in universities after a ceremonial conferment. The words master and doctor also have their roots in Latin, both referring to teacher.
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Conferment ceremonies of Doctoral Degrees in Technology at Aalto University
The degree of Doctor of Science in Technology is relatively new compared to the doctorates awarded by traditional science universities.
University status and the right to award doctoral degrees was granted to the Technical University of Finland, later Helsinki University of Technology, in 1908. Its first dissertation was in the field of chemistry, Sulo Hintikka’s ‘Studies on Camphenilone’, supervised by Professor Gustaf Komppa and approved for publication in 1911.
The first conferment in Finland for doctors in technology was held in 1934 in the grand auditorium of the university, by Hietalahti market square. The occasion, a formal evening affair followed by a coffee gathering, was graced by the presence of the President of the Republic and other leading dignitaries of Finland. Ten Doctors of Science in Technology as well as two honorary doctorates were awarded at the ceremony. The doctors honoris causa were Karl Evert Palmén and Eliel Saarinen. The Finnish title for Doctor of Science (Technology), teknologian tohtori, was later changed to tekniikan tohtori.
Promovendi
Every student who completed their doctoral degree in technology between 1 May 2024 and 30 April 2026 is invited to participate in the 2026 Ceremonial Conferment. The right to participate is a one-time possibility.
Registration is open until 17 May 2026. If you are planning to finish your doctoral studies by 30 April 2026 you can send an email to conferment@aalto.fi.
Honorary doctorates
Aalto University confers honorary doctorates to persons of high standing in the fields of science, technology, arts or business, or in other societal or cultural activities. These persons also have strong connections É«É«À² University or have a significant impact to activities at the Aalto University.
Seven new honorary doctors in technology at Aalto University in 2026