Valikko
21.09.2026
ISYY’s Association Days are almost here and we at ISYY’s international sector thought that you might want to read more about ISYY clubs before meeting them at the event. Some of you might be a bit more familiar with our club activities compared to the Representative Council, but if you’ve never heard of ISYY Clubs, they are non-profit free-time communities that operate under the Student Union (ISYY).
The clubs are established and run by UEF students. Clubs are there to bring more joy and meaning to student life, and every member of ISYY is welcome to attend any activities and events organised by them. Both Joensuu and Kuopio campus have their own clubs and associated activities. The clubs freely decide what kinds of events they organise so you have the option to try a lot of things! Most of the club activities are free of charge, but some a bit more expensive events, such as sitsit, have a small participation fee to cover for the expenses of the event if the club’s budget given by ISYY isn’t enough.
Have you ever wondered what kind of activities do clubs organise and how you can get involved in them, either just as an attendee or perhaps as a part of the club’s board? We asked international students Arthiya Adhi Sivakumar and Aadish Chauhan about their experiences with our clubs. Read what they have to say about ISYY Clubs!
Arthiya: “I take part in activities of JEIS (Joensuu’s Exchange and International Students)!”
Aadish: “I attend every event organised by JEIS. I am on the board as well so I really enjoy organising the events. I have also attended the chess clubs events and I think I may have been to some more but it's hard to remember. That just goes to show how many activities ISYY has and how it is open to everyone.”
Arthiya: “I joined JEIS in my second semester. My first semester was really tough, it was winter, I didn't know anyone, and I felt very lonely. That loneliness pushed me to join the club in my second semester, and that's when everything changed. I met so many people, made a lot of friends, and started going to events and trips organized by the clubs.“
Aadish: “I was told about the chess club by a friend who added me to their WhatsApp group, and then I started attending when I could. For JEIS I was familiarised with them and what they do by their Instagram page. Also by word of mouth from some people.”
Arthiya: “The biggest thing it brought me was people, friendships that made this place feel like home. My first semester was so difficult because I wasn't part of any club or event, and the isolation got to me so much that I went back to India, unsure if I wanted to return and finish my master's. But I came back, and after joining the club, everything felt different. I found a sense of home in the people I met. I'd tell other students to join club activities because being far from your country, your friends, and your family can get lonely, even with regular calls back home. You still need people physically around you, people who understand what you're going through and who can create new memories with you here. That's what club activities gave me.”
Aadish: “Participating in these student-led club activities has given me countless friends, and experiences which I will remember forever. I participated in the Timetravels Lofoten trip done in collaboration with JEIS and it was an unforgettable experience. In the chess club I improved my chess skill a little bit because the people who lead that club are quite good chess players and they love to share their knowledge. If students participate in these events they’ll certainly meet new people make new friends and connections, and most of all they’ll have a lot of fun. Already many new students who have attended events like this have told me how much they enjoyed being a part of the events.”
Arthiya: “Being a board member has been a really nice experience. It's how I found close friends, through spending weekends together organizing events. Between studies and project work, most of our time is already busy, but board work gives us a reason to slow down and do something enjoyable together. It doesn't take up too much time, around three to four hours a week for meetings and event planning. As the Social Media Manager for JEIS, I also spend time editing reels, which I genuinely enjoy since I love video editing, so even the ‘work’ side of it feels fun.”
Aadish: “It is genuinely one of the best decisions I made after coming to Joensuu. I do wish that I had joined JEIS in my first semester as it is. But sadly I did not get to know about the general meeting on time. However, once I joined them in the spring semester as a board member I started as an event manager. The tasks I needed to do for that position did not take much out of my schedule as we as a board try to work as a team and we divide work really efficiently. I just had to buy some snacks sometimes for events, come up with new event ideas, set up the online event page where people can buy their tickets etc. It was all very easy and I had to work mainly when we had an event. During the event, we spend a few hours outside the designated event time for setting up the event location and other preparations. We also have weekly meetings which take 1 hour per week. So overall the work I am required to do as a JEIS board member is really manageable with my study schedule. Now I am a vice president starting this semester and the work I need to do has increased slightly, but not that much. It is still quite manageable in my opinion. And even if we have back to back events and maybe we have extra work then also I don’t mind because I enjoy being around other board members.”
The clubs organise a general meeting usually once per year where they elect a new board for the club and decide their action plan and budget for the next year. So if you’d like to become a board member and help with organising events, contact the club and ask when they’ll have their general meeting. You can find the contact details for each club on ISYY’s website. Most ISYY clubs have this meeting at the beginning of autumn semester. Did you know that you can earn 1 ECTS for being a club board member for a year?
Clubs have their own communication channels, but you can find information about events and activities organised by our clubs from ISYY’s newsletters, campus bulletin boards and from our website's event calendar. You can also get to know our clubs at this week’s Association Days! Clubs are present on Wednesday 23 September from 10 am till 2 pm at Carelia lobby in Joensuu and Snellmania lobby in Kuopio. Participating in the Association Days is free so go check out what ISYY clubs have to offer!
Didn’t find a club for you? No worries, ISYY members can establish new clubs and they will get funding from ISYY. You need three people for your club’s board to get things started. You can read more about establishing your own club on ISYY’s website. Our staff also organises club training for new (and old) clubs and their board members so don’t worry about getting started, we are here to help!
P.S. If attending club meetings or events feels like a lot, but you’d like to meet new people and do something fun in your free-time, consider using ISYY’s Hobby Buddy service.