About Malmö University's academic traditions and the insignia used at the ceremonies.

Medieval traditions remastered

Malmö University’s conferment and professorial inauguration ceremony celebrates and honours the academic achievements of the past year. Of all the medieval traditions that surround these academic ceremonies, some have been passed on over centuries and now live on in our young University in the heart of Malmö.

The video about the academic traditions and insignia is in Swedish, with optional subtitles in Swedish or English.

Peter Bauer, Emilia Frölich, Emma Hall.

The doctoral degree conferment is a ceremony for those who have completed their doctoral studies and defended their thesis in the past academic year. The Swedish word ‘promovera’ comes from the Latin ‘promovere’, and means ‘moving forward’. The conferment ceremony symbolises a scientific journey, inspired by Greek mythology where knowledge is transported over Mount Parnassus. During the ceremony, this journey is symbolised by the doctor passing a podium, called the parnassus, which grants the symbolic right to teach.

Professor Kristin Järvstad, Fakulteten för kultur och samhälle.

In Sweden, a professor is the highest teaching position at universities and colleges. At the professorial installation, those appointed as professors are installed and welcomed into the collegium by university representatives. This act is preceded by an inauguration lecture given by all future professors earlier in the week. The Vice-Chancellor installs the new professor.

Sunil Maharaj, hedersdoktor, Fakulteten för teknik och samhälle.

Honorary doctorates are often awarded to academics at other universities, but just as often honorary doctorates are awarded to people based outside academia. They are people that the University wants to reward and recognise for their commitment and deeds in promoting scientific research. Honorary doctorates are appointed by the faculties.

Ulla Schröder, Jubeldoktor Odontologiska fakulteten.

Some years, the University has the privilege of awarding a jubilee doctorate. This title is bestowed on a person who has received a doctorate from a university 50 years earlier. During the ceremony, the jubilee doctor is awarded a diploma. In 2019, the University's first Vice-Chancellor Per-Olof Glantz became a jubilee doctor.

What are insignia?

Insignia are the symbolic objects and tokens of honour awarded at the doctoral degree conferment ceremony. The hat and the wreath symbolise freedom but also power, and with power comes responsibility. The ring symbolises fidelity and dedication to the ideals of science.

During the conferment ceremony, the new doctors are also presented with a diploma, which used to be the written proof of their degree and had to be carried with them when travelling to other universities, for example. Today, the diploma lives on as a nice memento of the ceremony.

Staff with doctoral hat and laurel wreath.

The doctoral hat and laurel wreath symbolise freedom but also power. The doctoral hat is worn by those with doctoral degrees in technology, medicine and odontology. Those with a doctoral degree in philosophy wear a laurel wreath.

Hand holding the doctoral ring. Black and white photo.

The ring symbolises commitment and dedication to scientific ideals. Malmö University offers three doctoral rings; a university-wide doctoral ring in Humanium Metal (produced by Individual Human Help), a university-wide doctoral ring in gold, and a faculty-specific doctoral ring in gold for the Faculty of Odontology.

Årshögtid på Malmö Live.Malin Thor Tureby

The ‘robe’ is the formal academic gown worn by the vice chancellor, conferrers, deans, professors and the jubilee doctor during the conferment ceremony and at other academic events. Malmö University has chosen to use the talar as a symbol of equality and unity.

Peace metal

Malmö University is the first university in the world to use 'peace metal' for its doctoral rings, the Vice-Chancellor's chain, and the deans' chains. Humanium Metal is produced by the non-profit organisation Individual Human Help (IM) and is made of recycled metal from collected and stored weapons from Guatemala and El Salvador.

Humanium Metal is a strong symbol of our values; it reflects how we want to contribute with knowledge and dialogue to build a sustainable future based on human rights.

Rebecka Lettevall, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement and Human Rights and initiator of Malmö University using peace metal for insignia.

About Humanium Metal (humanium-metal.com)

The Vice-Chancellor’s chain. Closeup photo.

The Vice-Chancellor’s chain is a symbol of office and is worn at formal academic events. Malmö University's values of an open society, freedom of speech, and critical thinking have been incorporated into its design by Ingegerd Råman. In addition to Humanium Metal, the medallion is made of silver and glass crystal. The two cogwheels symbolise people's ability to constantly evolve and think in new ways. The prismatic crystals create multiple reflections which represents contrasting perspectives and opinions.

Contact

arshogtid@mau.se