The new Professor of Practice will promote understanding of human rights, democracy and the rule of law among students of social sciences, while also enhancing their professional skills in these themes.
Kaari Mattila, Doctor of Social Science and former Secretary General of the Finnish League for Human Rights, was appointed as Professor of Practice at the University of Eastern Finland’s Department of Social Sciences in early February. Her previous roles have taught her that students have a strong desire to contribute to a more just society, especially when it comes to human rights and democracy.
“A great number of social scientists end up as civil servants, influencing decision-making in their local schools or sports, in healthcare, social welfare or child protection services provided by well-being services counties, or at the national level working for ministries. My understanding is that current studies in this field do not always provide students with sufficient professional skills to recognise issues related to fundamental and human rights in their work in public administration, or in the corporate sector or within civil society.”
Mattila has extensive experience in human rights work both in Finland and internationally. She has worked on human rights issues not only with the Finnish League for Human Rights but also with Amnesty International’s Finnish section, and with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Mattila is also a member of the executive board of the International Federation for Human Rights, the oldest international human rights organisation.
“This professorship puts the University of Eastern Finland in a good position to understand the current climate with its multiple tendencies to undermine the foundations of the rule of law. Mattila’s knowledge of human rights and democracy help to link our existing expertise in social sciences to new platforms both nationally and internationally,” says Professor Arto O. Salonen of the Department of Social Sciences.
“This is first Professor of Practice position in Finland that is dedicated to human rights and democracy in social sciences, and it is great to get this work going at the University of Eastern Finland,” Mattila notes, pleased.
“In terms of societal interaction and the university’s broader mission to provide and ensure a certain level of education in society, this kind of a Professor of Practice position is also a new opening for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies”, the faculty’s Dean Sari Rissanen notes.
The Professor of Practice position is part-time.
Interdisciplinary collaboration on human rights issues
Mattila is a long-term advocate for a better understanding of fundamental and human rights, democracy and the rule of law among public servants and authorities.
“This is urgent, especially when looking at the actions taken by the newly elected President of the United States, which were predictable. In Finland, too, there has been complacency in the belief of the rule of law being permanent. However, it is crucial for people to understand the system that human rights, democracy and the rule of law together form.”
As a Professor of Practice, Mattila aims to enhance this understanding. Although her position is hosted by the Department of Social Sciences, she hopes to collaborate with the entire University of Eastern Finland, including the Law School.
“A remark made by many legal scholars is that students of law should have a stronger understanding of social sciences. The University of Eastern Finland is a great place to explore the interfaces of social sciences and law.”
In her new role, Mattila looks forward to exchanging ideas with seasoned researchers, teachers and students.
“I feel that my initial role will be to ask questions and listen, and to reflect on the ideas that have come to me as someone who has worked outside academia for a long time.”
Mattila’s professional networks in the fields of human rights and democracy, and within society more broadly, span far and wide, and in her new role, she wishes to facilitate students’ closer connections to them.
Enhancing public servants’ skills in recognising human rights
The various disciplines hosted by the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland conduct research into, e.g., inequalities, equality issues, care, working life, migration and the dimensions of social sustainability and well-being.
“Poverty and disadvantage, and work- and health-related inequalities always involve aspects of human rights and democracy. Finland, like any other country, has a legal obligation to ensure a certain level of social security.”
In her role as a Professor of Practice, Mattila wants to enhance future social scientists’ understanding of fundamental and human rights, as they will play a crucial role in decision-making in the healthcare and social welfare sector, or in national sustainable development actions.
“I believe it is also important to recognise the origins of democratic rule of law, and what that means, in practical terms, in different areas of society and in the lives of individual children and adults.”
Mattila underscores the importance of thinking about how, e.g., cuts to various social benefits also affect people’s democratic opportunities to participate. For instance, research shows that the most well-off are also the most active to vote.
“Research suggests that poverty will become increasingly prevalent in Finland, a country that already is in violation of the European Social Charter. It is essential to understand how this will be reflected on, and how it will affect people’s opportunities for societal participation in, for example, Eastern Finland, where there is a lot of disadvantage.”
Mattila has a special connection to Eastern Finland, as she has family roots in North Karelia.
“I hold the invitation to become a Professor of Practice at the University of Eastern Finland in particularly high regard because it allows me examine and understand Finland more closely from the Eastern Finnish perspective.”
Enhancing understanding of advocacy in the academic world
In her previous role, Mattila has developed advocacy and training processes to better integrate human rights into areas such as youth work and sports. For instance, the Human Rights in Youth Work project, carried out by the Finnish League for Human Rights, has provided training on human rights issues to nearly 1,000 youth workers, while the Human Rights in Sports project has trained over 600 people involved in sports so far. Mattila has also mentored students and young leaders on career-related issues. She has served as a negotiator and observer in numerous international and national human rights processes, representing both the government and civil society.
“As a Professor of Practice, I would also like to enhance the academic community’s understanding of what advocacy is, and how it can be done.”
For further information, please contact:
Professor of Practice Kaari Mattila, tel. +358 50 326 3810 kaari.mattila(at)uef.fi
Professor Arto O. Salonen, tel. +358 50 359 0613, arto.salonen(at)uef.fi
Dean Sari Rissanen, tel. +358 40 594 3774, sari.rissanen(at)uef.fi