Professors' inaugural lectures at the University of Eastern Finland in 2026, Joensuu Campus

At the University of Eastern Finland, professors’ inaugural lectures are a tradition where newly appointed professors give a popular lecture on the key themes of their discipline and research.

In 2026, professors’ inaugural lectures will be held on the Joensuu Campus, in the Metria Building, M100 hall, on 27 May, starting 12:00, and on the Kuopio Campus, in the Canthia Building, CA101 hall, on 28 May, starting 9:30. The lectures will be streamed live, and the recordings are later available for viewing on the website dedicated to professors’ inaugural lectures.

Inaugural lectures by professors of the Philosophical Faculty, Metria, M100, starting at 12:00:

• Faculty's opening words.
• Katriina Maaranen, Education. Lecture title: Perspectives on Research in Education and Teacher Education.
• Sini Mikkola, Church History. Lecture title: History of Christianity: what, why, and for whom?
• Heta Tuominen, Educational Science. Lecture title: Making the grade but feeling exhausted? The role of motivation in well-being.
• Juhana Venäläinen, Cultural Studies. Lecture title: Emerging Environments of the Economy.

Inaugural lecture by professor of the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Metria, M100, starting at 13:20:

• Faculty's opening words.
• Jukka Tikkanen, Participatory Forest Policy and Decision Support. Lecture title in Finnish: Kerroksellisuuden haaste ja ratkaisut metsiin liittyvässä päätöksenteossa

Inaugural lectures by professors of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, Metria, M100, starting at 13:40:

• Faculty's opening words.
• Kaisa Huhta, European Law, especially Energy Law. Lecture title: Energy law in Europe: searching for security, sustainability and affordability.
• Tiina Sotkasiira, Social and Public Policy, especially borders, mobilities and conflicts. Lecture title: The promise of social and public policy in an age of perceived insecurity and polycrises.

Welcome!