Pia Widén’s doctoral thesis entitled Developers and Advocators – Strategic Alumni Engagement at Cambridge, Uppsala, Harvard, Helsinki, and Penn State Universities, 1840–2018 examines alumni engagement at five of the world’s top universities over a period of almost two centuries. Widén, a member of the Alumni Association’s delegation, will defend her doctoral thesis in a public examination on Friday, 29 August 2025, at noon.
The thesis sheds light on the underlying causes and effects of alumni engagement, and offers new insights and practical recommendations for developing strategic alumni programs. The research shows that alumni engagement has been an important strategic part of universities’ operations internationally for over 150 years. The research also examines, for the first time, the common development of the University of Helsinki’s alumni community, senior associations of student nations, and the Alumni Association as part of an international comparison. The public examination therefore offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on what our meaning as alumni is – now and in the future.
The opponent is Johan Östling, Professor of History at Lund University. Laura Kolbe, Professor of European History at the University of Helsinki, who is also the Alumni Association’s previous Alumna of the Year, will act as the custos. The public examination will be held in English and can also be followed via live streaming (the link will be sent to those who have registered for the event). After the event, there will be a sparkling wine reception, for which we ask you to register using the link below.
Friday, 29 August 2025, at 12.15 pm (EEST), Auditorium F2044 in the University’s Main Building (Fabianinkatu 33, 2nd floor) and via live streaming.