News
| 30.05.2025

Hanken honours donors and scholarship recipients at annual ceremony

Stipendiaterna som belönades står på scenen tillsammans med rektor Ingmar Björkman
"The support we receive from our alumni and friends is absolutely crucial for Hanken’s continued success. Without your contributions, Hanken would not be what it is today," said Hanken’s Rector, Ingmar Björkman, at the university’s Donors’ Evening and Scholarship Ceremony on 27 May.

In addition to numerous contributions from organisations and private individuals, Hanken has over the past year received significant donations from several key benefactors. These include Dr. h.c. Marcus Wallenberg’s Foundation (1.5M € for professorship in sustainability and business administration plus matching funds from Hanken’s Support Foundation), Peter Sarlin’s Foundation PS (500 000€, partial funding for professorship in AI & Business), The Louise and Göran Ehrnrooth Foundation (150 000€  per year for five years for the Hanken Business Lab), Stiftelsen Tre Smeder and Yksityisyrittäjäinsäätiö (financial support for Hanken Business Lab) and several regional foundations in Ostrobothnia (financial support for the new Master’s programme with Umeå University at the Vaasa campus). 

Rector Björkman says that Hanken really stands out, especially in a European context, for the exceptional way the alumni support the School, both financially and in many other ways. 

“They act as spokespeople, hire our students, give guest lectures, and serve on our board and advisory board. We are truly proud of our alumni.” 

As a gesture of gratitude towards the School’s honorary donors, Hanken has appointed donor awards to the best performing bachelor and master students at the end of each academic year, as well as the best performing outgoing exchange students from Hanken. The scholarships were awarded during the event. The award-winning students who have given their consent to publication can be found here: Scholarships and honorary awards.

This year’s scholarship from the Waldemar von Frenckell foundation goes to Reza Jalalian. The foundation supports Hanken’s Executive MBA Programme at Hanken & SSE Executive Education with one full MBA scholarship per year.  
 
Hanken's fundraising is ongoing and all donations are directed to the School’s core operations. By donating to Hanken you can contribute to strengthening Hanken's unique position as an independent, Swedish-speaking, and international business school. You can read more about Hanken's fundraising here: hanken.fi/donate. 

Text: Jessica Gustafsson
Photo: Gustaf Hafström