Welcome to the anniversary celebration 2021!

Invitation to the anniversary celebration and the virtual events held during the anniversary week of the University of Helsinki from 22 to 26 March 2021.
Dear members and friends of the University community

We wish to invite you to celebrate the 381st anniversary of the University of Helsinki and follow the virtual events of the University’s anniversary week on the University’s YouTube channel and the Think Corner website from Monday, 22 March, to Friday, 26 March 2021. The 381st anniversary of the University of Helsinki will be officially celebrated on Friday, 26 March. At 12.00, Prime Minister Sanna Marin will give .

The anniversary week’s programme will be kicked off by Rector (special duties), who will give on Monday, 22 March at 12.00. In the current circumstances, strengthening the connection between humans and nature, as well as bolstering the international community and the inclusivity of the University community, is important.

Join us to celebrate the University’s anniversary and follow the virtual events of the anniversary week online. During the week, you can share photos, thoughts and greetings with the University and the University community on social media using the hashtag #WeAreHelsinkiUni and mentioning the university account. You will also have the opportunity to follow the tweets of our protocol specialist on the anniversary and academic traditions and ask about traditions by following the on Friday, 26 March.

Let’s meet online and on social media!

Below is the detailed programme of the anniversary week. Direct links to the daily events will be added later.
Anniversary week programme

Rector (special duties) Jari Niemelä will give the week's .

Watch the speech on our  at 12 noon.

You can watch our students' love letters to the University on our  at 12 noon.

The session on Alumni Day discusses the effects of technology on our worldviews.

Hosting the discussion on Think Corner's Stage will be journalist and Professor of Practice Reetta Räty, MSocSc. Topical information from the perspective of research and the labour market will be provided by Docent , a university researcher specialised in political science, and Senior Sustainability Communications Manager Timo Nurmi from Posti Group Oyj.

The event starts at 17.30.

This event is in Finnish only.

Follow the opening of the ‘When everything changed – Photographs of the everyday life of the University community in the middle of the pandemic’ online exhibition on our  at 12 noon.

In the programme:

  • opening address of the exhibition by Museum Director 
  • music.

On Wednesday, a strategic partnership between the University of Helsinki and the University of Nairobi will be launched by Rector Sari Lindblom and Vice-Chancellor Stephen Kiama.

Addressing the session will be

  • EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen
  • Amb. Simon Nabukwesi, Principal Secretary
  • State Secretary Tuomo Puumala
  • Ambassador Erik Lundberg
  • Professors Olli Vapalahti and Omu Anzala.

Follow the launch event on our  at 16.00.

Watch the announcement of the recipient of the J.V. Snellman Award and the recipient's speech on our  on Thursday at 12 noon.

The J.V. Snellman Award is an esteemed award for outstanding efforts to disseminate scholarly knowledge.

On Thursday at 13.00, a discussion on the significance of inclusivity to the University community will be streamed from Think Corner. Discussing the topic are  Administrative Director, , Dean of the Faculty of Science, , Assistant Professor from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and Sophie Nyyssönen from the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. After the event, the discussion can be continued among individual work or student communities from 14.00 onwards.

 at 13.00.

After the event, the discussion can be continued among individual work or student communities from 14.00 onwards.

In the programme:

  • The Rector's anniversary address: Rector Sari Lindblom
  • Anniversary speech: Prime Minister Sanna Marin
  • music.

Follow the event on our  at 12 noon.