Opening ceremony, lectures and festival launch the new academic year at the University of Oulu

The University of Oulu’s academic year 2025–2026 will be formally opened during the second week of September, 8–12 September 2025. The programme for opening week includes the traditional opening ceremony, inaugural lectures by new professors, students’ Hurmos events, and an ecumenical opening service organised by the local parish.

The Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year for the entire university community will take place on Wednesday 10 September, starting at 3.15 p.m. in Saalastinsali, Linnanmaa campus. Speeches will be given by, among others, the new Rector Arto Maaninen, Minister of Science and Culture Mari-Leena Talvitie, and Chair of the Board of the Student Union Vilma Sippola. Musical performances will be provided by the University of Oulu Chamber Orchestra, and the vocal ensemble Neliä, whose members are alumni of the University of Oulu. Coffee will be served after the ceremony. Pre-registration is required for the event.

The students’ Hurmos opening event spans two days. On Thursday 11 September from 12 noon to 5 p.m., Hurmos Day will be held at Linnanmaa campus, with corridors filled with various stands introducing student services. On Friday, the Hurmos Festival will be held for students at Kuusisaari from 4 p.m. onwards. Tickets are required for the evening event at Kuusisaari.

On Friday 12 September, the Tellus Stage at Linnanmaa Campus will host inaugural lectures by six new professors. The lectures are open for all.

  • Professor of user-centered design and digitalization Marianne Kinnula: Democratizing design – children as future design/technology protagonists (in Finnish)
  • Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management, especially Industrial Value Chain Development Jukka Majava: Industrial Value Chain Development – what, why and how? (in Finnish)
  • Professor of Mathematics Ville Suomala: In the forest of random trees (in Finnish)
  • Professor of NMR Spectroscopy Vladimir V. Zhivonitko: Invisible Forces, Tangible Progress: The Power of Physical Methods in Modern Science (in English)
  • Professor of Cognitive Psychology Juha Salmitaival: Modern techologies in ADHD-research – towards personalized treatment
  • Professor in Socio-ecological Resilience Maria Ojala: Young people in a time of climate and polycrisis: Identifying resilience factors for active citizenship and mental wellbeing (in English)


Opening Week Programme

  • Wednesday 10 September, 1.30 p.m. – Ecumenical service at St Luke’s Chapel, Yliopistokatu 7
  • Wednesday 10 September, 3.15 p.m. – Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year in Saalastinsali, Pentti Kaitera Street 1, Oulu. Register by 29 August. To read more, visit the event page.
  • Thursday 11 September, 12 noon – 5 p.m. – Hurmos Day for students at Linnanmaa Campus. To read more, visit the event page.
  • Friday 12 September, 10 a.m. – Inaugural lectures by new professors at Tellus Stage, Linnanmaa Campus. To read more, visit the event page.
  • Friday 12 September, 4 p.m. – midnight – Hurmos Festival for students at Kuusisaari, Oulu. To read more, visit the event page.
Last updated: 13.8.2025