The Academic Ceremony
There are many traditions and formal occasions at the University, and a significant occasion is the Academic Ceremony where academic excellence is celebrated. The Academic Ceremony is organised once every two years to honour the University's new Professors and Doctors. The Ceremony dates back to the Middle Ages and is common to all university colleges and universities in Sweden that conduct research. In connection with the Ceremony, prizes and awards will also be presented.
At the 2024 Ceremony, doctor’s degrees will be conferred and professors will be inaugurated who were appointed during the period 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2023.
Västerås Concert Hall
Kopparbergsvägen 1 | 722 13 Västerås
Programme
Wednesday 3 April - Round-table discussions with new professors for invited guests
Thursday 4 April - Honorary Doctors and Award Winners Day - welcome!
Friday 5 April - Academic Ceremony
10:30 All honorary guests must be at the Västerås Concert Hall.
11:00 Mandatory rehearsal for all honorary guests (not formal dressed).
12:00 Lunch for honorary guests at Västerås Concert Hall.
12:30 Change to formal attire, there are facilities available for changing to formal attire at the Concert Hall.
14:00 Photographs will be taken of honorary guests in groups and individually at the Concert Hall.
15:30 Group photographs will be taken of honorary guests in the main Concert Hall.
16:00 All guests take their seats in the Västerås Concert Hall.
16:30 The ceremony starts.
17:45 Honorary guests and invited guests walk to the Västerås Kongress venue. (3-minute walk). Mingle for honorary guests and invited guests.
18:30 Banquet at Västerås Kongress for honorary guests and invited guests.
Open to the general public
The general public is welcome to attend the Ceremony from the Concert Hall balcony. Guests are welcome to take their seats on the balcony from 16:00. The ceremony starts at 16:30 and will end around 17:45. Guests on the balcony can wear optional smart attire.
Who is invited to the Academic Ceremony and the banquet?
Policy regarding the guest list
The following categories of persons are invited to the Academic Ceremony:
- Honorary guests:
- At the 2024 Ceremony, doctor’s degrees will be conferred and new professors will be inaugurated who were appointed during the period 1 July 2022 to 31 December 2023.
- Honorary doctors (2023)
- Winners of the Collaboration Medal and Teaching Prize (for the current year)
- The Swedish Government and Parliament, the Speaker, Minister for Education, Secretary of State, Unit for the Higher Education sector and members of the respective constituencies
- The County Governor and County Administrative Director for Västmanland and Sörmland
- The Chair of the Regional County Board and the Directors of the Sörmland and Västmanland regions
- The Chair of the Municipal Executive Board and Heads of local government for the Sörmland and Västmanland municipalities
- Research funding bodies and sectoral authorities (Director Generals and Managing Directors)
- Our collaborative partners (Managing Directors)
- The Swedish National Union of Students (Chair)
- Previous honorary doctors (5 year’s back in time)
- Vice-Chancellors from other higher education institutions
- The University Board and the latest Chair of the Board
- MDU employees – Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University Director, Deputy University Directors, Deans of the Schools, Directors of Divisions, Artistic Director, Heads of Research, Strategic Director of Studies, Collaboration Coordinators, Dean and Pro deans
- MDU’s previous Vice-Chancellors
- Professors – solely visiting Professors, Professors Emeritus and Affiliated Professors
- Principal supervisors
- Collaborative platforms – those responsible/Process managers and Chair of the Board
Doctoral degree conferment ceremony and professorial inauguration
The doctoral degree conferment ceremony is the solemn occasion at the University where doctoral students who have fulfilled the requirements for a degree of doctor will be conferred a doctor’s degree. In addition, honorary doctoral degrees are conferred on persons for meritorious achievements within their field. Those who will be conferred with a doctoral degree walk over the symbolic Parnassus, are welcomed by the person conferring the degree and will receive their laurel wreath, doctoral hat and diploma.
Professorial inauguration takes place when the Vice-Chancellor has awarded a diploma to the new professor. Professors to be inaugurated will be given the opportunity to participate in a round-table discussion.
Honorary Doctors
The title of honorary doctor is conferred on a person who has an important role for us and who has a clear link to our research and education or who has in other ways made outstanding contributions in one of our organisational areas.
Prizes and Awards
During the Academic Ceremony the recipients of the Teaching Prize, MDU’s Collaboration Medal and the holder of the professorship in memory of Alva Myrdal will be honoured.
Teaching Prize
The Teaching Prize was established to promote educational development at MDU. The prize is awarded to the person who has made outstanding contributions to education at first cycle and second-cycle level (Bachelor’s and Master’s). The prize is worth SEK 50,000 and the prize may be divided between a maximum of three prize-winners. The prize is passed on to the department, division, or organisational unit to which the prize-winner(s) belong and must be used for the person’s or the group’s educational development. The prize is awarded during the Academic Ceremony and the prize-winner must also hold a short lecture about their educational contributions.
All students and staff at the University have the opportunity to nominate a person or group they consider should be awarded the prize. The nominee must be a permanent employee at MDU. A nomination committee will then submit proposals for winners to the Vice-Chancellor, who will appoint the winner.
Collaboration Medal
The Collaboration Medal will be awarded to a person who has made outstanding contributions in support of the University’s collaboration and co-production profile. The medal will be awarded during the Academic Ceremony.
All permanent employees may nominate a person for the prize. The nomination must be accompanied by a statement of reasons. A medal committee will submit proposals to the Vice-Chancellor for recipients of the medal. The Vice-Chancellor decides who should receive the medal.
Professorship in memory of Alva Myrdal
MDU has established a visiting professorship in memory of Alva Myrdal. The professorship is in honour of Alva Myrdal’s work as a researcher, politician and social commentator.
The visiting professorship is financed by Samhällskontraktet, the strategic agreement on extended collaboration between MDU, Eskilstuna Municipality and Västerås City.
Information
Practical information for honorary guests
As a new professor, doctor, honorary doctor, recipient of the Teaching Prize or MDU's Collaboration Medal, you are an honorary guest at the Ceremony.
Practical information for invited guests
As an invited guest, you have an important role to play in creating a festive Ceremony for our honorary guests.
Insignia
Insignia are symbolic items that are bestowed at the doctoral degree conferment ceremony. See information on the last day of ordering!