LBS Professor Hélène Rey Honoured with Doctorate at Basel’s Dies academicus

It is with great pleasure that we announce that University of Basel, the oldest university in Switzerland, founded in 1460, has awarded an honorary doctorate (Dr. h.c.) to Hélène Rey during its 2025 Dies academicus 2025. The solemn ceremony took place last Friday in Basel’s historic St. Martin’s Church, followed by warm hospitality and celebration by the University community.

In the course of the ceremony, the University honoured leading figures across a wide spectrum of fields, arts, science, medicine, psychology, business, and humanities, awarding seven honorary doctorates and appointing its first honorary councillor. Among those recognised, Hélène Rey stands out for her seminal contributions to international macroeconomics and financial policy, especially her research on the global financial cycle, which continues to shape the dialogue on economic stability and global markets.

For Hélène Rey, the award is a recognition of a distinguished academic career and global impact. In a brief message to colleagues, she expressed her gratitude and shared delight at joining the ranks of those honoured by Basel’s venerable institution. The link to the official University of Basel announcement offers readers full details of all honourees and their fields.

This latest honorary-doctorate round illustrates the University of Basel’s ongoing commitment to bridging academic excellence with societal relevance, honouring not only traditional scholarship, but ground-breaking research and cross-disciplinary impact. As the Institution celebrates over five and a half centuries since its foundation, it continues to recognise individuals whose work transcends national borders and shapes global discourse.

For more details, read here