About 150 degree students celebrated their graduation in a joint ceremony at the Joensuu and Kuopio campuses.
The University of Eastern Finland organised its first joint UEF Graduation Ceremony for degree students who graduated during the spring semester, on 12 May 2023. About 150 students holding a Bachelor’s, Master’s or doctoral degree attended the ceremony at the Joensuu and Kuopio campuses. In addition, a lot of friends and relatives of the graduates took part in the ceremony.
The graduates received warm congratulations from Rector Jukka Mönkkönen for their persistent work.
“The words ‘degree’ and ‘graduate’ come from the Latin word ‘gradus’ meaning ‘a step’. And taking this step is definitely worth celebrating. An academic degree is a demonstration of its holder’s capacity for persistent work providing them with a solid set of skills and competencies. It is also a demonstration of an ability to acquire and process information critically, to collaborate with other professionals, and to continuously update these skills. Indeed, the importance of these skills will keep growing, as our society is becoming increasingly information-intensive and digital,” said Jukka Mönkkönen.
Academic Rector Tapio Määttä pointed out in his speech that, according to the Universities Act, the mission of universities is to educate students to serve their country and humanity.
“At the university, we often remind our new students that the university is not a school. We think that students are part of our academic community. The well-being of students is particularly important for us at the University of Eastern Finland,” Tapio Määttä said.
The graduates’ speeches were given by Rester Solis from the Master's Degree Programme in Public Health and by Essi Rajapolvi from the Master's Degree Programme in Home Economics.
“Let us never forget the moments that have shaped us and the people who have influenced us. Graduation is not an end, but a new beginning, a stepping stone to a bright future,” said Rester Solis.
Also Essi Rajapolvi pointed out the community of students and making lasting friendships.
“The years of study have brought meaningful people into my life, whom I can happily call lifelong friends. Although everyone continues their journey on their own, it does not mean that the paths diverge. I hope our paths will cross in the future as well, because life is best shared”, said Essi Rajapolvi.
At the end of the ceremony, the graduates received roses from the deans of the faculties, who also presented their own greetings to the students.
A video recording of the joint graduation ceremony will be available on the Vimeo video channel for two weeks: https://vimeo.com/event/3350787.
