Marjut Vehkanen
Humanist of the day

Marjut Vehkanen

Marjut Vehkanen’s devotion to the promotion, support and study of Finnish language and culture was already evident in her choice of university subjects. Finnish history, Finnish language and Finnish literature flavoured with a dash of political history and general history perhaps set the direction for an international career. As is so often the case, chance also played a role in the matter.

Marjut Vehkanen

Marjut Helena Vehkanen
Born February 2, 1947, Kuopio

PhD 2015 (public defence of thesis 24 October 2015), University of Helsinki (Finnish language)
Doctoral dissertation Kieliopista kommunikaatioon. Suomi toisena ja vieraana kielenä -oppikirjat vuosina 1866–1953 (‘From grammar to communication. Textbooks for Finnish as a second and foreign language in the years 1866–1953’)
Master of Arts 1973, University of Tampere (Finnish Language, Finnish History)

Studies in Germany and Hungary:
Goethe University Frankfurt, 1971–73
Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest 1975–77
Secretary General 2007–15, CIMO, Unit for Finnish Culture and Language

Editor in chief of the newspaper Aikuisten yliopisto 2000-07
Planner, project manager, training manager and deputy director 1994–2007, University of Helsinki, Vantaa Institute for Continuing Education (Luxembourg, European Parliament 1995, language training for translators; EU Commission training for interpreters 1997–98, 2004–05; continuing education for teachers of Finnish as a second language, 1994–2002)
Teacher of Finnish as a second language 1991–94, University of Helsinki Language Centre
Director and teacher of Helsinki Finnish language and culture summer courses, and teacher of a Finnish as a second language summer course for Nordic teachers and public officials 1990–96, Ministry for Education
Lecturer in Finnish Language and culture 1983–87, Moscow State University
Comprehensive and upper-secondary school teacher in Finland 1979–83
Foreign affairs Secretary 1973–74, OAJ (Trade Union of Education in Finland)

Awards and honours:
OJA Bronze Medal with silver sprig, 1996
OJA Bronze Medal, 1995
Honorary member of Suomi toisena kielenä -opettajat ry (‘Association of teachers of Finnish as a second language’) 2015

Positions of responsibility:
Board member 1993-96, chairman 1993–96, Ulkomaanlehtoriyhdistys ry (‘Association of foreign lecturers’).
Deputy board member 1993–1996, Yliopistolehtoriliitto ry (‘Union of University Lecturers’)
Deputy member of the Higher Education Council of the Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) 1998–2004
Board member 1998–2004, Parent Council of the Finnish Russian School
Member of the Board of Directors 1999–2004, Finnish-Russian School
Deputy board member of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East 2004–15
President 2013–25, past president 2015–16, Inner Wheel Finland

Photo: Sasa Tkalcan
Written by Marjut Vehkanen (Kaija Hartikainen, ed.)
Translated by Matthew Billington

Career Climax

Chance probably had a hand in my next appointment. I probably would not have left the interesting work I was doing at the University if the position of Secretary General of CIMO’s Unit for Finnish Language and Culture had not opened up. I wavered for a long time, after all I was statistically “too old” to apply for such work. But encouraged by several supportive friends I applied, and I was hired from a pool of over 30 applicants (among those I beat to the job was a younger male professor, that was quite something!).

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My Dream

My Dream is that my four daughters, of whom three have completed a master’s degree at the University of Helsinki and one at Aalto University and the University of Art and Design Helsinki, will be able to apply their talents in their careers.

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