Riitta Uosukainen
Encyclopedia
Riitta Maria Uosukainen (née Vainikka) (18 June 1942 in Enso
, South Karelia
, Finland
) is a Finnish
politician and former Member of Parliament
. She is one of the eight people to gain the highest honorary title, valtioneuvos
, given by the President.
Uosukainen worked as editor of the Kustannus Oy Tammi publishing house 1965-1966, before beginning university studies. She graduated with a Licentiate
in Philosophy
in 1970. She also worked as a teacher from 1969, becoming a Senior Teacher in 1971.
Uosukainen continued her career in education by becoming a Lecturer in Finnish language
didactics
at the University of Joensuu in 1976. She also served as Regional Teacher Educator in Finnish from 1976 to 1983.
She began her political career in 1977 when she was elected to Imatra
Town Council, retaining that post until 1992, before being elected to the Finnish Parliament
in 1983 for the National Coalition Party. She remained as a member of parliament until 2003.
Uosukainen was Minister of Education (1991–1994), National Coalition Party presidential candidate
in 2000, and Speaker
of the Finnish Parliament
almost continuously from 1994 to 2003.
Svetogorsk
Svetogorsk is an industrial town in Vyborgsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus, on the Vuoksa River. It is located one kilometer from the Russian–Finnish border, five kilometers from the Finnish town of Imatra, and 207 kilometers from St. Petersburg...
, South Karelia
South Karelia
South Karelia is a region of Finland. It borders to the regions of Kymenlaakso, Southern Savonia, North Karelia and to Russia. The term "South Karelia" might also be used to refer to the southern parts of the entire Karelia — the Region of South Karelia is termed "South" because it is the...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) is a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
politician and former Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. She is one of the eight people to gain the highest honorary title, valtioneuvos
Valtioneuvos
Valtioneuvos is a Finnish title of honor awarded by the President to elder statesmen. It is in the highest class of the titles of honor...
, given by the President.
Uosukainen worked as editor of the Kustannus Oy Tammi publishing house 1965-1966, before beginning university studies. She graduated with a Licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in 1970. She also worked as a teacher from 1969, becoming a Senior Teacher in 1971.
Uosukainen continued her career in education by becoming a Lecturer in Finnish language
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
didactics
Didactics
A didactic method is a teaching method that follows a consistent scientific approach or educational style to engage the student’s mind.The didactic method of instruction is often contrasted with dialectics and the Socratic method; the term can also be used to refer to a specific didactic method,...
at the University of Joensuu in 1976. She also served as Regional Teacher Educator in Finnish from 1976 to 1983.
She began her political career in 1977 when she was elected to Imatra
Imatra
Imatra is a town and municipality in eastern Finland, founded in 1948 around three industrial settlements near the Finnish–Russian border. In the course of the last 50 years, this amorphous group of settlements has grown into a modern industrial town dominated by Lake Saimaa, the Vuoksi River and...
Town Council, retaining that post until 1992, before being elected to the Finnish Parliament
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...
in 1983 for the National Coalition Party. She remained as a member of parliament until 2003.
Uosukainen was Minister of Education (1991–1994), National Coalition Party presidential candidate
President of Finland
The President of the Republic of Finland is the nation's head of state. Under the Finnish constitution, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people of Finland for a term of six years....
in 2000, and Speaker
Speakers of the Parliament of Finland
The Speaker of the Parliament of Finland , along with two Deputy Speakers, is elected by Parliament during the first plenary session each year. Speakers are chosen for a year at a time...
of the Finnish Parliament
Parliament of Finland
The Eduskunta , is the parliament of Finland. The unicameral parliament has 200 members and meets in the Parliament House in Helsinki. The latest election to the parliament took place on April 17, 2011.- Constitution :...
almost continuously from 1994 to 2003.