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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

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. Above all, however, I hope that all of them (50% already have!) can experience the joy of motherhood in life. For me, the “lifetime tenure” of motherhood, with all its joys, worries and sorrows, has far surpassed anything I have achieved during my career.

The greatest gift in life is the love, affection, tenderness and care between parents and children.

Easter at our home, with the eldest daughter Anna Szalay on the left, happy mother in the red jacket behind the table, third daughter Essi Vehkanen (now Ehrnrooth), my husband Kari Vehkanen and the youngest Marja Vehkanen.

 

By

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

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