VOCABULARY
The Conferment Ceremony:
The roots of the conferment ritual – the actual granting of a University qualification or honorary degree either at a graduation ceremony or in absentia – go back to medieval Europe in the 13th century.
Conferrer of Degrees:
Conferrer of Degrees
Each faculty has chosen one of the senior professors to act as the Conferrer of Degrees.
Promovendi:
The Latin name for the doctors who will be awarded degrees in this ceremony. Also: young doctor, graduand.
Representative of the promovendi:
Promovendi who have been chosen by their faculties to participate in the organizing of the conferment. They answer the questions posed by the promovendi about hats and swords and organize an informal sailing trip on the day after the conferment.
Honorary Doctor:
Doctoris honoris causa. The university honors some distinguished scientists or influential members of society with the award of an Honorary Doctorate. This is the highest honor that the university can bestow to a person.
Primus or Prima:
The first young doctor whose degree is conferred in the ceremony. Primus – or Prima – is usually chosen according to his/her excellent merits in the field of research. He or she will answer the question posed by the professor of his or her subject, and will thereby prove the learnedness of the promovendi he or she represents.
Ultimus or Ultima:
The second young doctor who receives special attention during the ceremonies. Ultimus – or ultima – is usually chosen according to his/her outstanding merits in the field of teaching or social activities. After the conferment act, the ultimus or ultima makes a speech to the invited guests.
The Sword-Whetting:
The Sword-Whetting takes place on the eve of the conferment ceremony. Honorary doctors and doctors whet their swords with the assistance of their escort or a marshal. Whetting is performed with a grindstone damped with champagne.
The Conferment Dinner and Ball:
During the evening, after the act of conferment, a degree ceremony dinner with speeches and music is arranged. After the dinner there is a Ball with old dances. After the Ball the guests gather together to admire and address a speech to the rising sun.
The Sailing Trip:
On the day after the conferment, an informal sailing trip or picnic is arranged for the Doctors.
Conferment Officials:
At the University of Oulu, the conferment officials are the Master of Ceremonies and the Chief Marshal.
Master of Ceremonies:
Professor conducting the ceremonies.
Chief Marshal:
Chief Marshal trains and supervises the student marshals from all the faculties working in the Degree Ceremony together with the Master of Ceremonies.
Marshals:
Students or university employees who assist the Master of Ceremonies and the Chief Marshal during the ceremonies.
The Conferment Book or the Register (Matrikkeli):
The conferment book is published before the ceremonies. It includes short CVs of the doctors and honorary doctors.
HISTORY
Many traditions of the Finnish academic community today are deeply rooted in the history of the Academia Aboensis, the university founded in Turku in 1640 by the Swedish Queen Christina. As stated in its founding charter, the new Academia was to be modeled on the medieval Uppsala University. Via Uppsala, academic ceremonies conducted at Turku came to follow a spectacular tradition that had originated at Bologna and Paris in the 13th century. This tradition still flourishes in all its central features.
