Joakim Paasikivi and Peter Björkman named honorary doctors
Honorary doctor is a title awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development of research and education at Jönköping University (JU). Joakim Paasikivi, military strategist and retired lieutenant colonel in the Swedish army, and Peter Björkman, lighting design manager at Fagerhult Lighting, have been appointed honorary doctors at JU by Vice-Chancellor Måns Svensson. The conferment will take place on 29 November at Jönköping University's Academic Ceremony.
Joakim Paasikivi became particularly well known to the general public at the time of the Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when he frequently appeared as a military expert in the Swedish media to comment on and give an analysis of the war. He is also known for having been a lieutenant colonel in the Swedish Armed Forces and a former teacher of military strategy at the Swedish National Defence College in Stockholm, as well as a teacher at the Baltic Defence College in Estonia. During his military career, he served in both Sweden and Finland and has held several leading roles in intelligence and security services.
Honoured and humbled
After retiring in 2024, Joakim Paasikivi worked as a geopolitical advisor at the law firm Mannheimer Swartling.
He had this to say about his appointment as honorary doctor:
"I never imagined that I would end up in the role I have now after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Going from being an expert commentator within my professional field to becoming “famous from the television” was dizzying in itself, but to also receive such an honour from Jönköping University was beyond my imagination. I am very happy, honoured, grateful and, not least, humbled by the appointment. It is a privilege that few are granted, and one that I hope to live up to.
Reasons for the conferment of Joakim Paasikivi as honorary doctor at Jönköping University
"Joakim Paasikivi has long made outstanding contributions as an educator and analyst in security policy, geopolitics and international relations – areas of great relevance to social science research and sustainable social development. Through his unique combination ofacademic roots, military experience and pedagogical skills, he has contributed to strengthening public discourse on issues relating to democracy, security and societal preparedness.
In a time characterised by increasing geopolitical tensions and information influence, Paasikivi has become a trusted and accessible voice in the public sphere. His ability to explain complex international conflicts, military strategies and security policy developments in a nuanced and understandable way has made him an invaluable player in the service of public education. He has thus contributed to promoting an informed and resilient civil society – a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable and democratic social development.
Paasikivi's efforts are not only of educational value, they also shed light on key social science issues concerning power structures, intergovernmental relations, security architecture and the role of civil society in crises and conflicts. Through his work, he has demonstrated how research and professional practice can work together to increase society's resilience and preparedness.
Awarding Joakim Paasikivi an honorary doctorate at Jönköping University would be a recognition of his significant contributions to increased social understanding, knowledge dissemination and sustainable social development – in Sweden and beyond its borders".
Impressive expertise in product and application development
Peter Björkman is currently Light Planning Manager at Fagerhults Belysning Sverige AB. His career began in 1998 at consulting firm WSP, where in 2001 he furthered his education by taking three independent lighting design courses at what was then the School of Engineering (later the Jönköping University of Technology (JTH). These courses later became the basis for the bachelor's programme in Lighting Design and Lighting Technology at JTH at Jönköping University.
After a few years as a lighting designer at WSP, Peter joined Fagerhult in 2006 as Product and Application Manager and later became Light Planning Manager in 2020. With almost 20 years at the company, Peter has built up impressive expertise in product and application development. He has been involved in developing several successful lighting products and in developing and strengthening the department. Fagerhult has been a strategic partner of JTH since 2018.
"It is an honour and very exciting to have been appointed honorary doctor at JU. At first, I didn't think it was true, but after letting it sink in a bit, I thought that maybe I have done quite a lot for education over the years. It's not something I think about in my everyday life, but my commitment to lighting issues and education comes naturally, and I do it because I think it's fun and important. So it's really great to receive this appointment," says Peter Björkman.
Reasons for the conferment of Peter Björkman as Honorary Doctor at Jönköping University
“Peter is passionate about sharing his broad and deep knowledge of light and lighting. He has shown an enthusiastic commitment to the Lighting Design and Lighting Technology programme at JTH, been active in the programme’s industry council, has driven development issues and generously shared his experiences. He was involved in making the programme a bachelor's programme – Sweden's and, as far as we know, the world's only bachelor's programme dedicated to light.
He has initiated collaborations, study visits, internships and lectures, and always goes the extra mile. Among other things, he initiated a meeting in 2017 between JTH's lighting researchers and Fagerhult, which marked the start of a successful research collaboration. He has been instrumental in projects such as Tunable Light Patterns (TuLiP) and in the development of the lighting laboratory at JTH.
Thanks to Peter and Fagerhult's engagement, there is now an established research environment in lighting science at JTH, led by Sweden's first and only professor in the subject: Myriam Aries".
