Honorary doctors appointed at Jönköping University

CEO Urban Bäckström, professor John Elliott and professor Maureen Kilkenny have been appointed honorary doctors at Jönköping University.

Urban Bäckström is appointed honorary doctor at Jönköping University for his outstanding achievement as a commentator, writer, and opinion-maker with great influence over the Swedish business community for decades. His achievements include being Secretary of State in the government of Carl Bildt, managing director of Skandia Liv, Governor of the Riksbank, Vice Chair of the board of NASDAQ OMX and CEO of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise until 2014.

Urban Bäckström is also appointed for his important contributions to the development of Jönköping International Business School, mainly as its chairperson between 2003-2007, a period that was marked by great challenges. Bäckstrom actively supported the launch and deployment of the successful Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO). He has continued to give his active support for research at JIBS and he is still an inspiration to both staff and students as an inspiring guest speaker.

Bäckstrom has, in his role as head of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, actively worked to put the focus on the challenges that Sweden's small and midsize businesses face; such as ownership , internationalization and entrepreneurship. This focus coincides well with JIBS’ profile.

John Elliott , professor emeritus at the University of East Anglia, UK, is apponted honorary doctor at Jönköping University for his many years as an internationally prominent and accomplished researcher in educational sciences and for the influence he has had on the development of school-based research at the School of Education and Communication.

Maureen Kilkenny , professor at the University of Minnesota, has been appointed honorary doctor at Jönköping University for an internationally prominent accomplishment as a researcher in economic geography and regional economics, and for her important contributions to the development of research in economics at Jönköping International Business School.

Conferment of honorary doctorates On Friday, September 26 at 10:00 to 12:00 the new honorary doctorates will hold short lectures for Jönköping University staff and students. The conferment of honorary doctors and newly examined doctors as well as  inauguration of full professors will take place at the Academic Celebration Saturday, September 27 at 16:00 in Hammarskjöldsalen, Elmia Congress & Concert Hall in Jönköping.

For more information please contact:

Maria Isaksson, Chief HR and Communications Officer
Jönköping University
+46 70-585 66 40