Graduation ceremonies at the University of Joensuu
Today we discussed with Niko that is a sad practice to not have the graduation ceremonies at our university. In a master program, one studies for five years to get one of the highest academic awards. Then, s/he gets the diploma via mail. Sad!
As we talked, it would be enough to have the ceremony once in while (each month?) for the whole university. All BA/BSc, MA/MSc, PhLic and PhD could shake their hands with rector, get the diploma officially and with honor, listen to anthem and perhaps to some oration. Those who graduated with honors could get their minute of glory receiving a stipend in front of their (weeping) families. An unforgettable moment. University, in turn, would get a great PR.
I just cannot find a reason why not to have it. Shall we then try to propose the inaugurations?
I want to think that once every year is more than enough, or at least that is how it is in Spain. Being in Finland I have missed (or I am going to miss) my ceremony. It would be great to be there, luckily my father told me that he is not going to miss it :) Even if my little brothers has to pick my diploma…
Mixing oration and science looks not very coherent to me. However, University offers a master’s degree in theology, they can already put in practice what they learnt in their own ceremony.
As always, I am up to any party that may occaur!
For me, it is unknown how does the graduation system works in Finland. On the other hand, I had lived both type of graduations: the of ceremony type as you described and the equivalent to send via post your degree. And I actually prefer, as adults, to close this period of my life (sometimes quite long one), defending my thesis.
That is THE day, and that “glory” or not glory is shown on battle field. Usually on those exams your family, friends, colleges, known and unknown people are present. Tuff day in a way (at least I suffered when it was my turn) and after this academic confrontation, when the jury decide if you deserve or not your degree, with honors o non, and all these it is express on public, then the “paper” as we know it as diploma, it is complete secondary, it is just a symbol.
Any other “social” event offered by the school to give you this document, I see it in a way as formalism. Or as a personal perspective an excuse to be with your friends after the (most of the cases) boring ceremony. In which one, not everybody can assist mainly for job reasons.
It might be to have the option of this social event, for some it is important. But I am not sure if for all the levels of study makes sense.
What I had heard, that at least they do in Helsinki, it is an event every “x” years to bring together the graduate students, in a special kind of ceremony. Of that one, I am curious about.