From the Vice-Chancellor's blog:
The doctoral graduates have completed just such a journey – they have presented their doctoral theses, hopefully full of the new knowledge and insights they have acquired on their path through life and in their careers so far. So what could be more important than celebrating them for recently passing such a milestone?
The doctoral degree conferment ceremony is the University’s finest celebration, centred on the faculties and on scholarly achievement. After a two-year hiatus, it is time once again to gather in the Cathedral to celebrate two years’ worth of doctoral graduates, those who completed their PhDs during the past year (3 June), but also those whose degree conferment ceremonies were cancelled due to the pandemic (held on 6 May).
For me too, inaugurated as the new Vice-Chancellor during the pandemic, this first “real” doctoral degree conferment ceremony feels special. This spring, we are seeing most things return to normal at the University and in society, and ceremonies are important to communicate not only tradition, but also stability and security – so crucial to our well-being in these times of unrest.
It is true that the Cathedral’s two mighty towers have been somewhat hijacked by renovation work this year, the scaffolding extending upwards in competition with the treetops of Lundagård park, and the King’s House is evidently entering the remodelling stage. But if the University has learnt anything during the pandemic, it is to work with what you’ve got. Surely we will also manage to circumvent an obstacle or two on the way to the doctoral degree conferment ceremony.
So in anticipation of the cannon-shot salutes, I take this opportunity to say Salve! The doctoral degree conferment celebrations and early summertime are here!
/Erik Renström