Professor of Financial Accounting Hannu Schadewitz Retires After a Distinguished Career

Professor of Financial Accounting Hannu Schadewitz marked his retirement in December at the Department of Accounting and Finance of Turku School of Economics. His 25-year career, which began in 2001, coincided with a period of significant reforms, increasing internationalisation of university work, and major structural changes shaping the academic environment.

The farewell event of Professor of Financial Accounting Hannu Schadewitz was held at the Department of Accounting and Finance in December. Hannu joined Turku School of Economics directly as a professor on April 1, 2001, and went on to complete a 25-year academic career at the institution.

Over the course of his career, university work became increasingly professionalized, and operations were developed in a systematic manner. Academic activities grew more international, and the influence of the European Union intensified. Hannu was involved in several degree reforms and AACSB accreditation processes, as well as in the integration of Turku School of Economics into the University of Turku as one of its faculties.

The final working days prior to retirement were spent in the new university building, to which the Department of Accounting and Finance relocated from the former “–88 wing” in 2023. During his career, Hannu supervised, as principal supervisor, among others eight doctoral students to completion, taught extensively across various degree programmes, and assumed responsibilities in several administrative and decision-making bodies.

Significant structural changes during his career also included the discontinuation of department-based support services, such as departmental secretary and academic officer positions, the centralisation of functions into a service centre, and the sharp increase in remote work following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hannu considers it especially valuable that his career also gave rise to collegial relationships that extended beyond formal work roles and continued through informal meetings and ongoing personal connections.

The entire department warmly thanks Hannu for his significant contributions to the department and the discipline, and wishes him a pleasant and well-deserved retirement.