Having seen the world and experienced various cultures, Riikka Hälikkä has returned to her home region as International Services Manager for the City of Mikkeli. Her role is to develop services for newcomers who speak foreign languages.
The city is now placing strong emphasis on internationalisation, which is reflected in its approach to improving services for non-Finnish-speaking residents.
“I’m someone who’s drawn to big-picture work, which is why the opportunity in Mikkeli appealed to me. The job description really resonated – Mikkeli’s appeal hit me all at once!” Hälikkä says, revealing that it was her sister who tipped her off about the vacancy.
Originally from Mäntyharju, near Mikkeli, Hälikkä moved to Turku after finishing school to study classical languages and cultures at the University of Turku. Along the way, she found a second home in the Eternal City – Rome.
“I was based at the Finnish Institute in Rome both before and after graduating. I was part of a research group, and that opened my eyes to a broader European perspective. At the time, I imagined a career in academia, but eventually, life behind a desk made me realise I wanted to work with people.”
Her career has taken a few turns, including various international project roles. Europe gradually gave way to assignments in Africa and Asia.
“Even though I’ve lived and worked in many places and on many types of projects, my roots in South Savo have been a constant support,” says Hälikkä, who now lives mainly in Lahti.
Riikka Hälikkä stresses that Mikkeli must focus not only on attracting international residents, but also on ensuring they stay. One of the city’s approaches to internationalisation is the International House service model, based on the ‘one-stop shop’ principle. The aim is to provide smooth, accessible services to all foreign-language speakers living in Mikkeli.
“Mikkeli already has pulling power. It has a clearly urban identity – Mikkeli is definitely a city. It’s small, but the right decisions have been made here. Mikkeli isn’t just resting on its reputation as a summer town, but is striving to be an attractive place all year round, including for international newcomers.”
“Mikkeli also understands that attracting people from abroad is essential – it’s a key factor in vitality. Of course, NATO establishing a presence in Mikkeli plays a role in internationalisation, but that’s not the whole story. There’s genuine momentum here – Mikkeli’s opportunity is now.”
Hälikkä enjoys dog-related hobbies in her spare time. She currently doesn’t have a dog of her own, but enjoys spending time with dogs she helps care for. Unsurprisingly, her interest in international matters also fuels a passion for languages.
“I’d love to study languages more seriously if I had the time. I’ve often worked in English, and I also speak Swedish. I know a bit of German and Italian as well. My background in Latin helps me understand many languages. I fell in love with Portuguese while living in Mozambique. I think it would be amazing to learn Arabic, as it’s such a global language,” she reflects.
Meet the International Services Manager
