Kyöstilä and Nakao became Honorary Doctors of Medicine

Image: Noora Slotte / Studio P.S.V.

A top hat and a sword might sound like a thing of the past, but in Finland they are still a sign of great recognition in the academic world. The doctoral hat and sword are given to everyone getting a doctorate as prestigious symbols. In the university, the doctor's hat symbolises freedom of science. The sword is luckily not used for fighting on a battlefield, but as a spiritual symbol for the noble task of defending the truth. Conferment of an honorary doctorate is the highest honour a university can give to a person.

Heikki Kyöstilä awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Oulu

Planmeca Group’s President and founder, Heikki Kyöstilä, was recently awarded an honorary doctorate of medicine at the University of Oulu, one of the largest universities in Finland. Kyöstilä was awarded the honorary doctorate in recognition of his contribution to the field of dentistry and oral health and its development.

“Quality education and research are the cornerstones of expertise and development. Planmeca Group has collaborated with the University of Oulu ever since dentistry education started there in 1973. I am very honoured to be recognised by the university this way,” Kyöstilä said.

The University of Oulu confers honorary doctorates to people who have distinguished themselves on the fields of science represented in the university, and many of them have collaborated significantly with researchers of the university. In addition, invitations are made to those who have distinguished themselves significantly in other ways in the society and for the benefit of operations of the University of Oulu. The university conferred 23 honorary doctorates altogether at their conferment ceremony in May 2017.

Makoto Nakao became honorary doctor of the University of Turku

The University of Turku, located in southwestern Finland, awarded long-term President and CEO of GC Corporation, Makoto Nakao, an honorary doctorate of medicine. As one of the world’s largest companies producing and developing oral healthcare materials, GC Corporation is another important actor in the field of oral health.

Image: Esko Keski-Oja

The University of Turku grants honorary doctor titles and the related insignia to people who are considered to be deserving of such an acknowledgement based on their scientific or cultural achievements or on their merits in promoting science, arts or culture. The University of Turku conferred 12 honorary doctorates altogether in their conferment ceremony in spring 2017.