As a professor at the University of Helsinki, one is dragged, against one’s inclinations, into all kinds of administrative and expert roles and positions of responsibility, starting from that of teaboy at alumni events. The Suomalainen klassikkokirjasto (‘Library of Finnish Classics’) project, begun at the behest of the Rector, and its functional planning, fundraising and running its pilot project in cooperation with the University Library and the National Library of Finland has engaged me for years, as it will for years to come.

A natural point of contact for a scholar of Finnish literature is the Finnish Literature Society, with which I have cooperated for years in formulating and publishing critical editions of the works of Aleksis Kivi. Literary prizes and awards mercilessly swallow one’s time if one mistakenly agrees to such tasks. But mistakes are instructional, and the Finlandia, Lea and Aleksi Kivi prizes have broadened my perspective on literary life. At the Kalevi Jäntti Foundation, which awards prizes to young authors, a pile of books awaits me every autumn, through which it is possible to follow developments in Finnish literature.

An important position of responsibility outside the University has been my chairmanship of an expert group on the teaching of Finnish language and culture, which operates under the auspices of CIMO, the Centre for International Mobility. This body sends Finnish language teachers abroad and coordinates about 100 Finnish language and teaching centres around the world. The results of this activity can be widely seen in academic and cultural exchanges, translation activity and the grassroots expansion of knowledge of Finland abroad.