The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
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The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
03.06.2026
In spring 2026, ISYY’s advocacy sector conducted a survey to examine students’ of the University of Eastern Finland experiences of bullying.
The aim of the survey was to gain a better overall understanding of the prevalence and nature of bullying in the university field, as well as to identify potential development measures and solutions that could help reduce bullying as a phenomenon and thereby promote student wellbeing.
ISYY sent communication requests to all the boards of the subject associations of UEF. It was also communicated in ISYY’s main communication channels, which are the website, campus-specific newsletters (Weekly Feeds in English and Wiikko-Ärsyke in Finnish), social media (Instagram and Facebook) and UEF’s official internal communication channel Viva Engage. The survey was open 10.3.-7.4.2026.
The survey was conducted both in Finnish and English, but the results are based on responses to the Finnish questionnaire. The English version differed slightly in its questions, and so few responses were received that it was not possible to compile a comparable dataset from them.
A total of 180 students from both campuses (Joensuu 55% and Kuopio 45%) responded to the survey. Responds were gathered completely anonymous.
The responses indicate that bullying is unfortunately a common phenomenon among students. Of the respondents, 62% had observed bullying at least occasionally, and more than one third had personally experienced bullying during their studies.
Most often, the perpetrator was reported to be another student, but one in ten respondents also mentioned a member of staff as the perpetrator.
Based on the survey responses, bullying most commonly appears as social exclusion. Many respondents reported experiencing belittlement, humiliation, gossip, and even inappropriate treatment, for example in teaching situations. According to the responses, bullying occurred most frequently in group work or study situations, at subject association events, and in orientationrelated activities for firstyear students.
There was considerable variation in how long the bullying lasted. Experiences ranged evenly from 1–2 weeks to bullying that continued for more than a year.
Bullying situations unfortunately often remain invisible, which makes it more difficult to intervene. Of those who responded to the question, fewer than half (40.7%, n=113) had told someone about the bullying.
In the openended sections of the survey, respondents were able to describe the situations they had experienced in more detail. The same themes appeared repeatedly in many responses: bullying is not always direct, but can be hidden, or the experience may be dismissed as playful joking.
Student communities should talk more openly about bullying, and it should be taken seriously. In communities and teaching situations, attention should be paid to ensuring that no one is left out in social situations, and that different viewpoints are given space.
In the survey responses, there was a wish for more training and guidance for associations and organisations and their actors on how to handle harassment and bullying situations, how to communicate about equality, and how to organise events.
ISYY annually organises association training for subject association actors, but the equality training that has traditionally been part of it was not carried out in spring 2026 due to scheduling challenges. The advocacy sector of ISYY aims to arrange a replacement open equality training session for associations in early autumn 2026. Associations can always contact the student union with any questions related to the topic.
There is room for improvement in communicating about the support available for harassment situations. The open responses in the survey indicate that students do not always know whom they can contact regarding possible bullying.
It is possible to receive many kinds of support in harassment situations. Inappropriate treatment and harassment -page in UEF Kamu has gathered information on how to recognise inappropriate treatment, what to do if you experience it, and where to get help. UEF and ISYY both have named and trained anti-harassment contact persons. Students can contact anti-harassment contact person if they experience, for example, bullying, discrimination, racism, sexual harassment on inappropriate treatment. The harassment contact person can offer discussion help, advice and act as a support person in situations perceived as oppressive. The harassment contact person can organize a negotiation if the parties so wish, or help in filing a potential criminal complaint.
Anti-Harassment Contact Person in ISYY
Mikko Aaltonen, Specialist in Academic and Social Affairs (Kuopio), tel. +358 (0) 44 576 8414, koso(at)isyy.fi
Anti-Harassment Contact Person in UEF
Tiina Juurela, Student Well-being Specialist, tel. +358 (0) 40 516 2572, tiina.juurela(at)uef.fi
On both campuses, students can also receive conversational support from UEF’s institutional pastors, i.e., campus chaplains. You can visit a campus chaplain regardless of church membership or worldview. All discussions are free of charge and strictly confidential.
ISYY expects subject and campus associations to adhere to equality and non-discrimination.
Many associations have their own saferspace principles in place, and student events increasingly have designated safety personnel who can be approached easily to report any potential harassment situations.
ISYY encourages associations to continue their active preventive work toward a more equal and safer student environment. Associations can also request support and advice on these matters from the Student Union.
All ISYY’s operations are guided by the current Equality Plan (PDF) defined for the years 2023–2026. The purpose of the plan is to promote equality, non-discrimination, equal treatment, and both the physical and psychological safety of the study environment within ISYY and in the associations, organisations and clubs operating under and close to it. The equality plan is a guiding document, and commitment to it is required from both the Student Union’s actors and employees.
Attached to the equality plan there is Safer Space Policy (PDF), which all subject associations and actors within ISYY’s community can make use of in their own activities.
At all major events organised by ISYY, there are also designated equality observers who can be contacted if one encounters disturbing behavior during the events.
A working group consisting of representatives of the Representative Council, the Board, and the staff is currently reviewing the need to update the existing equality plan and safer space policy. All possible changes and updates will be decided by the highest decision-making body, the Representative Council of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland. Council is formed of 39 student representatives, who are elected by elections every two years.
Mikko Aaltonen, Specialist for Educational and Social Policy (Kuopio) and Anti-Harassment Contact Person, The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY), koso(at)isyy.fi, tel. +358 44 576 8414
Ville-Pekka Timonen, Specialist for Interest Advocacy substitute until 5 June 2026 (Joensuu), The University of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY), soko(at)isyy.fi, tel. +358 44 576 8465