
Academic Ceremony
17 November 2023
What is an academic ceremony? What is honoured and celebrated? Who attends? What do the words mean? On this page, you will find information about the academic ceremony and what makes the one at Halmstad University special.
Academic Ceremony 2023

Ceremony 17 November
On Friday, 17 November, this year’s Academic Ceremony will be celebrated at Halmstad University! It will be both a solemn and festive day, when we celebrate successes and, among other things, inaugurate our new Vice-Chancellor and new professors. We also confer doctors and honorary doctors and honour other academic achievements. The Ceremony starts at 16.00 and will be held in the University Hall on campus.

Registration – by 3 November at the latest
In September, the official invitation to the ceremony will be sent out with a link to the registration page. You register yourself and your guest(s). Please note that even those who will be recognised and honoured during the Academic Ceremony must register (professor to be inaugurated, doctors/honorary doctors to be conferred, employees who have defended their doctoral thesis at another university since the last academic ceremony, newly appointed docents, newly appointed excellent teaching practitioners, newly appointed deputy professors as well as guest professors and adjunct professors). The invitation is personal and non-transferable.
Programme – the Ceremony
The Ceremony starts at 16.00. All guests should be seated by 15.45. The main part of the programme will be in Swedish.
The programme is preliminary.
- Procession
- Welcome speech, Harald Castler, Chair, University Governing Board
- Vice-Chancellor inauguration, conducted by former Vice-Chancellor Stephen Hwang
- Vice-Chancellor speech, Vice-Chancellor Susanna Öhman
- Professors’ inauguration, conducted by Vice-Chancellor Susanna Öhman
- Honouring visiting professors, adjunct professors and deputy professors
- Professors’ speech, professor Cristofer Englund
- Honouring new docents
- Break
- Conferment ceremony, conducted by the promotor, Professor Thorsteinn Rögnvaldsson
- Honouring employees who have defended their doctoral thesis at another university since the last academic ceremony
- Music
- Honouring new excellent teaching practitioners
- Announcement and awarding of Prize for Collaboration and Innovation, Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Anders Nelson
- Announcement and awarding of the Teaching and Learning Prize, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Malin Hallén
- Music
- Students’ speech, Linnea Håkansson, President of the Student Union
- Starters are served
- Celebration speech, TBD
- Music
- Main course and dessert are served
- The County Governor’s speech, County Governor Brittis Benzler
- Dance
Inaugural lectures
The Ceremony on Friday, 17 November, will be the finale of our academic celebrations, which also includes the new professors’ inaugural lectures and lectures with our new honorary doctors.
Tuesday 14 November
- From 9.00 breakfast is served
- 9.30–10.10: Introduction followed by Göran Sahlén, Professor of Biology with focus on Zoologi
- 10.50–11.20: Carl Bennet, Honorary Doctor (Innovation Sciences)
- 10.15–10.45: Daniel Möller, Professor of Literary Studies/Comparative Literature
Wednesday 15 November
- From 9.30 breakfast is served
- 10.10–10.45: Introduction followed by Per Nilsen, Professor of Implementation Science
- 10.50–11.20: Stefan Byttner, Professor of Information Technology
- 11.25–11.55: Cristofer Englund, Professor of Information Technology
Useful information for all Ceremony participants and guests
Below, there is useful information for all participants and guests of 2023 year’s Academic Ceremony.

Installandi
Professors to be inaugurated are called installandus/installanda, installandi in the plural form. Before the inauguration, there is a lot of information that you need to take part of.
Information for installandi
Promovendi
Doctors to be conferred are called promovendus/promovenda, in the plural form: promovendi. You have a doctoral degree from Halmstad University.
Information for promovendi
Honorary Doctor to be conferred
Our Honorary Doctors have shown appreciation of outstanding achievements to the University. Here’s some useful information before the conferment ceremony.
Information for honorary doctors to be conferred
Professors at the University (already inaugurated)
Our already inaugurated professors participate at the Academic Ceremony to support and welcome their new professor colleagues.
Information for already inaugurated professors
Visiting professors and adjunct professors at Halmstad University
The University’s visiting professors and adjunct professors are acknowledged and honoured at the Academic Ceremony for their commitment and efforts to the University.
Information for visiting professors and adjunct professors
New deputy professor
New deputy professors are acknowledged and honoured at the Academic Ceremony.
Information for new deputy professors
New docents
New docents (associate professors) are acknowledged and honoured at the Academic Ceremony.
Information for new docents
New excellent teaching practitioners
New New excellent teaching practitioners are acknowledged and honoured at the Academic Ceremony.
Information for new excellent teaching practitioners
Employees who have defended their doctoral thesis at another university since the last academic ceremony
Information for employees who have defended their doctoral thesis at another university since the last academic ceremony
This year’s award winners
Each year, a particularly skilled teacher is awarded the University’s Teaching and Learning Prize and an employee (or group) who is particularly successful in collaborating with the surrounding society is awarded the Prize for Collaboration and Innovation.
Information for this year’s award winners
Employee guests
All members of staff are invited to Academic Ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate colleagues and the University’s academic achievements.
Information for employee guestsExternal guests
Academic success and achievements are something which the University celebrates and acknowledges together with partners and friends!
Information for external guestsFacts about Academic Ceremony

What is an academic ceremony?
The academic ceremony is a European university tradition dating back to medieval times and ancient symbolism. Halmstad University is a young university that has created its own traditions and rituals, while remaining true to traditional ceremonies.
More information about academic ceremony
What do all the words mean?
Installandi, promovendi, promotor, diploma, professor, honorary doctor, insignia, parnass … What do all the words and concepts mean associated with an academic ceremony?
Wordlist – academic ceremony
Honorary Doctors at Halmstad University
An Honorary Doctorate is a way for Halmstad University to express gratitude towards someone’s significant achievements within one of the University’s research education areas: Information Technology, Innovation Science or Health and Lifestyle.
They’re our Honorary Doctors!
Previous Academic Ceremonies
Halmstad University celebrated its first Academic Ceremony in 1998. Since then, a total of 16 ceremonies have been celebrated.
FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about the academic ceremony. Please contact hogtid@hh.se if you can not find the answer to your question.
About the invitation
When is the invitation sent out?
Invitations to the ceremony will be sent out in September.
Can I invite guests under the age of 18?
Yes, that’s fine. Please indicate the age of the child in your registration.
What do I do with my registration if I or my guest are prevented from attending the ceremony?
Notify hogtid@hh.se as soon as possible.
About the ceremony
I am a professor and have a doctor’s hat. When and how should it be worn during the procession and ceremony?
You can hold your hat under your arm during the procession (entry). When the promoter puts on his wreath during the ceremony, you put on your hat.
Can I watch the ceremony without attending dinner?
Yes, that’s fine, but you need to register so that we know how many people are coming.
Will the ceremony be broadcast live or recorded for subsequent viewing?
No, it will not.
Can I sit wherever I want during the ceremony?
There is free seating in the hall with the exception of reserved seats at the tables at the front of the stage. Those who have reserved seats will be informed.
Other
Who is invited to lunch at Halmstad Castle?
In addition to installandi and Honorary Doctors, the University’s already inaugurated professors (exception: guest professors and adjunct professors), the University management and the president of the student union are invited to this lunch. No members of family are invited to this lunch.
94
That is the number of professors who have been appointed at Halmstad University since the first one was employed in 1999.
60
That is the number of doctorates at Halmstad University since 2011, when the University’s first doctor defended his thesis.
Doctoral education at Halmstad University