Event information
Event date
03.09.2024 17:30 - 04.09.2024 20:00
Event type
Academic celebrations
Arts and culture
Other events
Student events
Event language
Finnish
English
Event accessibility
Event space is accessible for all
Hearing loop
Sign language interpretation available, on request in advance
Event organizer
University of Jyväskylä
Event payment
Free of charge
Event location category
Seminaarinmäki
The Opening of the Academic Year is part of the University’s academic traditions. Its roots can be traced back to the days of Uno Cygnaeus, when the opening of the new Teacher Seminary, the first Finnish-language one in Finland, was celebrated on 14 August 1863.
The Opening of the Academic Year is a mix of new and old elements – with great respect for traditions. The first day of the two-day festivities is dedicated to students starting their academic year: the programme offers plenty of celebration and presentations of local operators. The next day, the Rector opens the academic year along with related festivities. Joyful celebrations will not stop there, however! This year Hovimuusikko Ilkka will entertain people in the assembly hall. Last but not least, further joy to the seasonal event is brought by the fabulous Nelli Matula.
On both days, there will be after-party entertainment at Ilokivi Venue, organised by the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä (JYY).
The Opening of the Academic Year consists of a whole set of events free of charge to all members of the JYU community.
Registration for the events starts on Wednesday, 7 August 2024 at 8 a.m.
Registration for the eventsends on Friday, 30 August 2024 at 2 p.m.
The University warmly welcomes all new students to our academic community. In the autumn, the new students are invited to the New Students’ Evening, which is organised as part of the opening festivities. At the New Students' Evening, the Rector and all vice rectors personally welcome each new student by shaking their hands.
During the evening, students have the chance to enjoy the University’s festive traditions: The programme includes greetings, music performances and plenty of other entertainment. The evening can be continued by making new friends at an after-party at Ilokivi.
The Rector's and Vice Rectors' reception at the door of the Assembly Hall (C1), Main Building, at 5:30 p.m.
The event starts at 6 p.m.
SPEECH: Chair of the Student Union Hilma Hintikka
PERFORMANCE: Ruamjai choir
SPEECH: Mayor Timo Koivisto
SPEECH: JYU alumni JYKYS declares the Alumni of the Year
PERFORMANCE: JyväSpeksi
SPEECH: Rector of University of Jyväskylä Jari Ojala
PERFORMANCE: Male Choir Alvar
The programme section ends and coffee service begins in the lobby of the Main Building (C1) at 7 p.m.
In the evening, Ilokivi Venue offers programme free of charge to everybody:
At 6-10 p.m. Speed Friending by JYY
Registration is required for the New Students’ Evening, so that we can reserve an appropriate amount of catering. You can sign up using the text link or the button above on this page.
Please arrive at the event already at 5:30 p.m.
In the lobby, you will be welcomed by Rector Jari Ojala and the three Vice Rectors Marja-Leena Laakso, Kaisa Miettinen and Pasi Raiskinmäki.
After handshaking, you can enter the assembly hall and find a seat.
The programme section starts at 6 p.m.
During the coffee service (beginning at 7 p.m.) you can view different displays:
Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä JYY
Soihtu
Ilokivi Venue
Cultural Centre Villa Rana
University of Jyväskylä
JYU Local Friendship Programme
Researchers' Night
Koas
After coffee, you can continue your evening at Ilokivi Venue. Read more about after-parties in the next section.
Speed Friending by JYY
The event starts at 6 p.m.
Come to meet new people at the multidisciplinary Speed Friending event at Ilokivi Venue organised by the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä!
Speed friending follows a bingo format, so it doesn’t matter if you miss the beginning of the event. Speed friending is bilingual (Finnish and English), and you can choose your preferred language for meeting new people. All university students are warmly welcome.
The bar in Ilokivi Venue is open throughout the event.
Coat racks available on a self-service principle.
The facility is also accessible to persons with reduced mobility.
The event ends at 10 p.m.
Ever since the beginning of the Teacher Seminary, festive openings of the academic year have been arranged on the Seminaarinmäki campus. The festivities have developed into a whole set of events fostering the traditions of academic celebrations, the roots of which can be traced back to the days of Uno Cygnaeus and the first opening ceremony of the Seminary on 14 August 1863.
The opening of the academic year starts with a traditional devotional event, alongside which there is now also a secular, philosophical session. Another tradition, the academic procession, which was revived years ago by Rector Aino Sallinen, begins the annual opening festivities - and the current Rector opens the new academic year by giving a celebratory speech.
The opening of the academic year is also celebrated with an evening programme, which is held on the same day in the assembly hall. This year Hovimuusikko Ilkka and Nelli Matula will get on stage.
Hovimuusikko Ilkka (Ihamäki) has entertained radio audiences since 2013. He is known for his unique, two-minute tailored songs, which he performs both on Radio Suomipop and at his gigs across Finland. Ihamäki received awards at the RadioGaala in 2018 and 2022 in relation to producing content. Ilkka has also been asked to write a song about the University of Jyväskylä – so come along to listen what he has to say, for example, about Uno Cygnaeus and the only Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences in Finland.
Nelli Matula is a Finnish singer and song writer. In her career, she has participated in the “Tähdet, tähdet” television show and featured, for example, on Robin’s (Hula Hula) and Profeetat’s (EYO) songs. Matula has released the albums “Kiltti tyttö” (2022) and “Jumalatar” (2019) and a number of singles, including the hit song “Lemmikki”. After several singles (gold), Emma nominations, and streaming chart top rankings, Matula will take the stage with her acoustic duo at the Opening of the Academic Year.
The opening ceremony is preceded by an opening prayer service and a secular event held at the same time.
From 11:45 a.m. “Elämä on - Tunteita & Tuskaa” (Life is - Emotions & Pain) (secular service), Ryhtilä (building R)
From 12:00 Opening prayer service (denominational service), Seminarium’s old assembly hall (S212)
From 12:30 p.m. The academic procession gathers in the main building’s side hall
The opening ceremony starts at 1:00 p.m.: the academic procession arrives in the main building’s assembly hall (C1)
SPEECH: the Rector of the University of Jyväskylä Jari Ojala
PERFORMANCE: Campuksen Koonto
SPEECH: Chair of the Student Union Hilma Hintikka
PERFORMANCE: Tessa Virta
The event ends at about 1.55 p.m.: the academic procession leaves
2:00 p.m. Serving coffee begins
In the evening, there will be free entertainment for all in the main building’s assembly hall (C1):
6:15 p.m. PERFORMING: Hovimuusikko Ilkka
7:15 p.m. PERFORMING: Nelli Matula
In the evening, there will be free entertainment for all at Ilokivi Venue:
8:00 p.m. Pre-party: Jyrock x Musica Rock
There are two separate registrations for the opening ceremony of the academic year. If you are arriving as a part of the audience and are not participating in the academic procession, select “registration for the opening ceremony (audience)”. If you will participate in the academic procession select “registration for the opening ceremony (academic procession)". Please note the dress code for the academic procession.
The academic procession gathers in the main building’s side hall starting at 12:30 and starts the opening ceremony by entering the assembly hall.
The audience are requested to take their seats in the assembly hall by 1:00 p.m.
After the opening ceremony ends and the academic procession leaves the assembly hall, coffee will be served for the audience in the main building’s lobby from 2:00 p.m. Coffee will be served for the academic procession and guests in the Seminarium’s old assembly hall from 2:00 p.m.
In the evening, Hovimuusikko Ilkka and Nelli Matula will perform in the main building’s assembly hall. Doors open to the public at about 5:50 p.m. There is no need to leave during the changeover (15 min).
Pre-club Jyrock x Musica Rock
The event begins at 8 p.m.
Jyrock, the oldest indoor festival in Finland, and the reborn charity festival Musica Rock are joining forces at Ilokivi Venue’s free pre-club!
During the evening, three fascinating and entertaining artists will take the stage. You can also buy advance tickets for Jyrock and Musica Rock from the club.
The bar in Ilokivi Venue will be open for the entire evening.
Cloakroom EUR 3 per person. The facility is accessible.
Finnish teacher education began on this very campus, in 1863. Since then, our driving force has been based on a pluralistic dialogue between research, education and society.
The park-like campus of the University of Jyväskylä is a unique cultural and natural environment, located within easy reach of the city centre. It reflects more than a century of Finnish architectural history and is especially known worldwide for featuring multiple buildings by architect Alvar Aalto.
See here for information about university
The University of Jyväskylä uses the eParking app. To make parking in the University area easier, be sure you have the eParking app in use. If you are a JYU student or staff member, login to the application with your Haka credentials. Visitor parking follows the street parking prices in the area.
Whether you are parking during chargeable hours or outside of them, you must always register your vehicle when parking in the area.
See here for parking maps and instructions for activating the eParking app.
The venues for the opening of the academic year are the assembly hall in the Main Building (C), the old assembly hall of the Seminarium (S), Ryhtilä (R) and Ilokivi Venue (ILO). You can find the venues best on the campus map.
There are plenty of cafes and restaurants on the campus of the University of Jyväskylä. On the terrace of Cultural Centre Villa Rana, beneath the trees of the Jyväskylä University Botanical Garden, you can enjoy hot and cold drinks. Tasty lunches are served at Semma restaurants and small salty and sweet delicacies can be had at a Compass Group café.
Ilokivi Venue is a cultural event space located on the ground floor of the Student Union Building Ilokivi, where film screenings, theatre, gigs, clubs, stand-up, burlesque, and other events are organised. You can also enjoy a variety of drinks at the Venue during the events.
Please note that you may not bring your own food or drinks to the opening events.
The age limit is 18 for Ilokivi Venue’s events, unless otherwise stated.
See here for cafes and restaurants on campus
Most of the events of the opening ceremonies are held in the main building of the University of Jyväskylä, in the assembly hall. In front of the main building, there are a few marked accessible parking spaces for disabled parking.
See here for accessibility information for other facilities.
Guests using wheelchairs and other assistive devices can access the main building’s assembly hall by elevator, which is located on the first floor of the main building, near the cloakrooms. The event staff and the building’s janitors will assist where necessary. Accessible sanitary facilities can also be found on the first floor of the building, near the cloakrooms.
Hearing loops will be in use during the events in the main building’s assembly hall and the old assembly hall of the Seminarium. Sign language interpretation is also available by ordering the service in advance. You can notify the event organiser of any other accessibility issues that require attention by email or phone. Contact information can be found at the bottom of this page.
Please note that the secular event organised on Wednesday 4 September (Elämä on - Tunteita & Tuskaa) in Ryhtilä is not fully accessible as the venue has stairs and thresholds.
Read more about the University’s equality and accessibility.
Our university is a socially and culturally safe environment where harassment, inappropriate treatment, discrimination, or other inappropriate behaviour is not allowed.
Read more about the University’s equality and accessibility.
What is inappropriate treatment?
Inappropriate treatment is negative behaviour that cannot be considered to be good manners. Inappropriate treatment can include making offensive comments, social isolation, gossiping, slandering, embarrassing comments, yelling, saying inappropriate things, unwarranted criticism, threatening behaviour, or unwarranted reminders of mistakes.
Harassment may be directed at a person, for example, due to their age, skin colour, opinions, beliefs, sexuality, or gender. Offensive behaviour can take place with words, actions, or attitudes. Insinuations, inappropriate expressions and gestures, inappropriate touching, inappropriate contacts and rude speech are harassment.
What should I do if I am treated inappropriately?
• In a matter-of-fact manner, tell the person that the behaviour bothers you and ask them to stop this type of behaviour.
• If you were not able to react in the situation straight away, you can also bring up the matter afterwards either verbally or in writing.
• If you do not want to or are unable to point out the issue directly to the other person, you can contact the parties mentioned below.
Make sure that you can discuss the incident and the feelings related to it with a trusted party.
Goodies
FSHS (YTHS)
University Chaplain
Student Union's harassment contact persons
Student Life
If you experience inappropriate treatment during the event, you can also talk to the staff working at the event. You can recognise the organisers and employees at the event by the JYU STAFF badges.
Security is the responsibility of the whole university community. With our daily choices and actions each student and employee can influence the security of our community.
If you notice safety issues at the events, please contact the building’s janitors or the staff working at the venue immediately.
Read more about JYU’s safety instructions.
Further information
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