Record number of new professors. HIS AUTUMN, the GU

Record number of professors inaugurated

Alexandra Weilenmann was one of over 100 professors that were celebrated.

Sweden's largest professorial inauguration ever took place on May 20, when as many as 106 professors were inaugurated at the University of Gothenburg. In addition, pedagogical award winners and excellent teachers were celebrated.

As many as 96 professors were inaugurated, another eight were appointed adjunct professors, and two visiting professors were welcomed by Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg during the ceremony at the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre. In her speech, the vice-chancellor explained how important teachers are for society as a whole. – Hundreds of thousands of professionals in our country implement through practical application everything they learned during their education at the University of Gothenburg. In this way, they contribute to our society and the country's development. When you think about it, it is almost breath-taking the significance you have as teachers!

She also pointed out the hard work and dedication required to become a professor.

– Failures, setbacks, things that do not turn out as planned, you have all experienced these. But somehow you have managed to keep going, finding a different approach or maybe even starting from scratch.

The professors were inaugurated faculty by faculty. Each faculty was presented with a short film, produced at the Communication Unit, where three to four professors spoke about their research. Inger Gjertsson, Professor of Rheumatology, held a thank you speech on behalf of all professors. – When I started as a rheumatologist about 30 years ago, all patients with rheumatoid arthritis were severely handicapped. Thanks to research, led by professors, new treatments could be developed and the world has become significantly better for the percentage of the population with rheumatic disease.

Excellent teachers and pedagogical award winners also received diplomas, after which Daniel Johansson, Vice Chairman of the University of Gothenburg's student unions, held a speech. Among other things, he pointed out the importance of professors as role models for students.

– However, I feel reassured, because if there is anyone who knows the lie of the land, it’s a professor at the University of Gothenburg.

Students from the Academy of Music and Drama provided the musical entertainment. A wind quintet performed pieces by Carl Nielsen and soprano Viktoria Karlsson sang Puccini's Oh! Mio babbino caro with accompaniment by Beatrice Hedly.

The ceremony ended with a buffet.

Text: Eva Lundgren Photo: Johan Wingborg