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 on the Joensuu Campus on 27 May starting at 12:00:

• Katriina Maaranen, Education. Lecture title: Perspectives on Research in Education and Teacher Education.
• Heta Tuominen, Educational Science. Lecture title: Making the grade but feeling exhausted? The role of motivation in well-being.
• Sini Mikkola, Church History. Lecture title: History of Christianity: what, why, and for whom?
• Juhana Venäläinen, Cultural Studies. Lecture title: Emerging Environments of the Economy.
• Jukka Tikkanen, Participatory Forest Policy and Decision Support. Lecture title in Finnish: Kerroksellisuuden haaste ja ratkaisut metsiin liittyvässä päätöksenteossa
• 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!