President of Finland Sauli Niinistö is the Alum of the Year
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö was awarded the Alum of the Year recognition at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the University of Turku on 28 February 2020. As the Alum of the Year, President Niinistö encourages scientists and scholars to boldly pursue results that help to build a brighter future.
President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö was awarded the recognition at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the University of Turku on Friday, 28 February 2020. Photo: Hanna Oksanen
With the Alum of the Year award, the University of Turku wishes to thank President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö for his work that has highlighted the importance of knowledge, research and education in the 21st Century Finland. President Niinistö says he is touched by this recognition.
– I thank my old home university for this recognition. I appreciate this and hope that it is a result of successful work and achievements, says President Niinistö.
President Sauli Niinistö graduated from the University of Turku as a Bachelor of Law in 1974. In 2011, he was appointed as an honorary Doctor of the University of Turku.
During his presidential terms, Mr Niinistö has highlighted the importance of scientific knowledge in public debate and decision-making. As the Alum of the Year of the University of Turku, President Niinistö encourages scientists and scholars to be independent pioneers and boldly pursue results that help to build a brighter future.
– Building the future is long-term work that needs to have a clear direction. The hectic modern era produces a great deal of instant and colourful information that quickly becomes yesterday’s news. The problem is in the reception of information – how does the stable message of science and research survive in this competitive environment. However, I believe that future solutions will still be based on research and critically reviewed information.
The Alum of the Year recognition is awarded annually to a former student of the University of Turku who has promoted the success of the University of Turku and Finnish society with their activities. President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö was awarded the recognition at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the University of Turku on Friday, 28 February 2020.
