The University of Helsinki experienced a boom of graduates on Tuesday when a record number of 450 Bachelors of Arts and 502 Masters of Arts received their degrees in the main hall of the University.
The reason for the unusual surge in numbers was the fact that the transition period for the reform of university degrees had ended and the last opportunity to graduate according to the old requirements was at yesterday’s publicum ceremony.
Some of those receiving their degrees had actually begun their studies as early as 1980, when others in line were barely even born.
Two separate graduation events had to be arranged, while those with the Bachelor’s degree received their certificates already earlier on the same day.
The new Masters of Arts and three new licentiates and four doctors as well as their guests were gathered at the festival hall of the University in the afternoon.
Dean Ulla-Maija Kulonen handed out the academic certificates in a graduation ceremony that lasted for a couple of hours.
As the new graduates had to stand in line waiting for the graduation, an ambulance from the Finnish Red Cross was placed next to the main entrance, just in case.
In spite of the sweaty atmosphere, nobody fainted or had a heart attack, and Kulonen shook hands with the new masters in the same way as the President welcomes her guests as they arrive in the annual Independence Day reception at the Presidential Palace.
”In its own way, this has been a historical publicum ceremony. I am especially proud of those of you who have now had enough courage to complete your studies after spending years outside the university working”, Kulonen concluded before Finland’s national anthem Maamme (”Our Land”) was struck up. The celebrations could start.
