Double the joy with two days of degree celebrations
Degree ceremonies for students on KI’s Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes were held on 5 and 6 June, and as tribute was paid to the graduates, an atmosphere of joy, expectation and pride filled Aula Medica.
A foretaste of summer lay over the Solna campus when it came time for two days of degree ceremonies for students reaching this milestone in their academic journeys.
Aula Medica’s Erling Persson hall was filled to the eaves with proud families and friends, who had assembled to celebrate the students’ achievements.
On 5 June, the doors opened for all graduates on the global Master’s programmes, and on the following day, it was time to honour the students graduating with Bachelor’s degrees.
Ceremonial entrance to string music
The Rosa Quartet played evocative string music as the standard bearers marched into the hall. Proceedings were opened by senior steward Deni Rahid, who was followed by welcoming addresses from Professor Rune Brautaset, deputy chair of the Committee for Education, and KI president Annika Östman Wernerson, respectively.
Both speakers raised the important social contribution that the students are making to human health by virtue of their choice of career. President Östman Wernerson even quoted Winnie the Pooh: “Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.” Wise words to the students after all their hard work.
Dispensing of good wishes
The ceremonies continued with speeches by the programme directors, who wished their students the best of luck in their future careers with genuine affection. After each speech, the students on each programme ascended the stage in their finery to receive their envelopes on the red carpet from the hands of Rune Brautaset and Annika Östman Wernerson.
Spirited send-off with music
The closing speech on the Friday was delivered by Vice-President of Education Ewa Ehrenborg, and was followed by music by Dominique Pålsson Wiklund and the Rosa Quartet, whose performance of George Gershwin’s “Summertime” induced a mood that was almost tangible.
The event was then rounded off with a spirited rendition of “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars followed by the exit of the standard bearers. Celebrations then continued in and outside the Aula Medica foyer.
Photos from the ceremonies 5 and 6 June
