Happy Tuesday! 

This week we are celebrating our 16 years old Student Union, congratulations ISYY!

The Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio merged together in 2010 to form the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). During the process, the Student Union of the University of Joensuu (JOYY) and the Student Union of the University of Kuopio (KYY) merged together and became known as the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY). Have you ever wondered why our logo has three points? That's because in addition to Joensuu and Kuopio, UEF and ISYY used to operate on a third campus in Savonlinna as well! The teacher education unit in Savonlinna was relocated in Joensuu in 2018, and the campus at Savonlinna campus was closed. You can familiarise yourself with the history of ISYY at our website.

This week on Thursday, March 19th, we also celebrate Minna Canth and Equality Day! Canth is considered one of the most influential playwrights and realist prosaists in the history of the Finnish language. She was also the first Finnish-language female journalist. You can read more about the topic here.

A direct quote from the Yle article:
"So treat yourself today, and roll up your sleeves for more work towards equality tomorrow."

Kind regards,
Joona Rantala | Coordinator of International Affairs, Joensuu Campus

ISYY Representative Council Meeting's Decisions 1/2026

The Representative Council of ISYY held its first meeting of 2026 on Sunday 1 March as part of the Council’s training weekend.

In its meeting the Representative Council decided e.g. the amount of remuneration for the Chairpersons of the Council, and appointed members for the Rules Committee and Finance Committee. ISYY Executive Board has established a working group to update ISYY’s Equality Plan, and two representatives were appointed to this group. ISYY Council also elected Hannele Mirola as ISYY’s new Secretary General.

The meeting featured lively discussion about establishing an International Committee, but the ISYY Council tabled the proposal in order to prepare it more thoroughly.

Upcoming exceptions in ISYY office opening hours

ISYY offices are closed:

• Thu–Tue 2–7 April due to Easter

In equipment loans, if the return date falls on a day when the office is closed, the loan period is automatically extended to the next day when the office is open.

Today at Coffee & Friends: Equality and Inclusion week

Coffee & Friends event offers low-threshold hanging out after lectures and the opportunity to meet other students over coffee and a snack. All students of the University of Eastern Finland are welcome to Coffee & Friends. You can come to the café alone or with a friend. In addition, Coffee & Friends has a changing chill program. Participation in the programme is voluntary and you can come for a while or for the whole time. Participation is free of charge and does not require pre-registration. 

Coffee & Friends meets on Tuesdays at 4-6pm at Agora Café. 

Coffee & Friends programme:

• 17.3. Equality and Inclusion week
• 24.3. Quizzes 
• 31.3. & 7.4. Easter Holiday, no Coffee & Friends this week!

ISYY's Association Days will be held 31.3. – 1.4.2026

ISYY organises the Association Days on Tuesday and Wednesday 31.3.–1.4.2026 at Joensuu campus and on Wednesday 1.4.2026 at Kuopio Campus. The event in Joensuu is held in Carelia lobby and in Kuopio in Snellmania lobby. The event takes place on both days from 10 am to 2 pm.

Come and find out what ISYY and associations close to it have to offer. It’s also possible that you’ll find some new activities from Association Days! ISYY Association Days are open for everybody and there’s no entrance fee.

Traditionally associations sells their overall patches at the event, so it is a good idea to take some money with you.

Going to represent your association or club? Click the link below and find the registration links!

ISYY Clubs in Joensuu

ISYY Clubs are open for all of our members. ISYY's club room is located at our office near the city centre (Suvantokatu 6, 80100 Joensuu). The club meeting list will be updated as new club meeting times and locations are confirmed by the clubs.

ISYY Club meetings at Suvantokatu

Monday  4 pm - 9 pm: Magic The Gathering Guild

Tuesday 6 pm - 8 pm: LUOMIO! Literary Arts Club

Wednesday 4 pm - 8 pm: JOOJAKU Japanese Culture Club

Thursday 4 pm - 9 pm: Joensuu Board Gamers

Friday 4 pm - 8 pm: ISYY Chess Club

Other ISYY Club meetings

Monday 4 pm - 6:30 pm: Bible Club (Natura, N110)

Monday 4:30 pm - 6 pm: JEIS Joensuu's Exchange and International Students (Aurora, AU207)

Floorball league Säbäliiga finals on Friday 20.3.

Floorball league Säbäliiga finals are played at Joensuu Areena Floorball field 4 on Friday 20.3.2026! Welcome to watch and cheer your favorite team starting at 12 noon.

Schedule for the finals:

• 20.3. at 12:10-13:25 Bronze game
• 20.3. at 13:35-14:50 Final game

Teams for the final and bronze game are decided at the semifinals on Tuesday 17.3.

Joensuun Urheilusukeltajat organizes a beginner introduction in Underwater rugby

Participant needs to be able to swim 200m without rest and know how to dive to atleast 2m depht. Bring also your own swimming suit. Other basic diving gear can be borrowed from Urheilusukeltajat. Besides the introduction there are free coached training sessions on Saturdays for the rest of spring.

Where: Joensuu vesikko
When: Saturday March 21st (15.40-18 o'clock)

The instructor will meet you in the lobby of Vesikko and you will start the session with explanation of the rules.

Kela: Benefits + income = Here’s the correct formula for combining work with your studies

How much can you earn if Kela pays you student financial aid? Will you have to pay some of my financial aid back to Kela? To help fguring out the math between your benefits and your income, Kela has published tips on how to successfully combine your student financial aid with income from other sources. For example, If you are paid student financial aid for nine months during the year, your maximum income limit for the year is EUR 20,127. If, however, you are paid student financial aid for 10 months during the year, your maximum income limit is EUR 17,890.

UEF info session on 20 March 2026 at 10:00–11:00

A UEF info session will be held on Friday 20 March 2026 from 10:00 to 11:00. The topics of the event include the decisions made in the UEF Board meeting of 19 March 2026, the financial statements 2025 and other current matters.

The languages of the info session are Finnish and English; the presentation material is in English.

YUFE info for UEF's Student Associations

Does your student association want to know more about the Young Universities for the Future of Europe alliance and all the possibilities for students of UEF that are associated with it?

Sign up your Student Association and get a grip on YUFE! Please answer the form by the end of March 2026.

The European YUFE alliance teaches cooperation and courage

Have you heard about the Young Universities for the Future of Europe alliance? The University of Eastern Finland is a part of this alliance. YUFE as a whole is comprised of ten young and research-oriented universities throughout Europe as well as two business partners.

YUFE Allience offers many opportunities that are available for everyone. You can find more information and introductions to all of these opportunities at uef.fi/en/yufe.

Want to read more about student experiences regarding YUFE? Sanni Vesala, a master’s degree student majoring in social policy at the University of Eastern Finland, was the President of the YUFE alliance’s Student Forum during 2025. In this blog post she recounts her experiences as a YUFE student representative.

All Vaara libraries closed on Monday 23 March

All Vaara libraries in North Karelia will be closed on Monday 23 March due to updates in the library system (Koha).

There is no access to the self-service libraries, web library or electronic resources at least on Monday 23 March. There may be brief interruptions in services until Tuesday morning. Loan due dates do not fall on the days the library is closed.

Towards Working Life in Eastern Finland!

Dear international student, are you interested in learning a bit more about working life in Eastern Finland? What would building a career in Eastern Finland look like? When and where to get started? 

The answer is right here: Talent Hub Eastern Finland invites you to participate in a free online course Towards Working Life in Eastern Finland!

What the course has to offer

The course is a MOOC (Massively Open Online Course) and available in English and Finnish. The course aims to build competence, confidence and comfort for international students when living, studying and working in Eastern Finland. The course can be completed in modules. For completing the entire course, students will be awarded a course certificate.

SYL: A strong will of young people to become educated is the greatest resource in Finland – investments must be in line with this

Finland has a huge amount of potential in young people who want to participate in higher education. In order not to miss this potential regardless of people’s background, free education must remain the cornerstone of the system. It is the primary manner of ensuring that educational pathways remain open to all young people.

Increasing Finland’s competence level requires a cross-parliament-approved plan that extends beyond government terms and commits to permanently strengthening the funding and resources of education. Long-term resourcing would enable a permanent increase in admission places.

Are you a member of the international community here in Joensuu? Come to share your thoughts in a discussion event!

International House Joensuu and the Stay and Live in North Karelia (ELO) project (co-funded by European Social Fund) are organizing a discussion event on the topics of equality, participation, and anti-racism experiences in Joensuu.

When? March 21, from 12 PM to 2:30 PM

Where? JoMoni office, Torikatu 9A, 2nd floor.

The event organizers will provide snacks, soft drinks, coffee, and tea for the event attendees.

Your attendance is important to us — with your thoughts and opinions shared in this safe and confidential event we can influence the direction of the policies and development within the city.

Registration in advance is required!

St. Paddy's Party @ Kerubi

On Thursday the 19th of March we're all a little Irish when the already traditional St. Paddy's Party comes again!

The Party will happen in Kerubi and it is the official afterparty of Echo's St. Paddy's Day sitz, but all students are welcome!

WHAT: St. Paddy's Party

WHERE: Kerubi

WHEN: March 19th at 11pm

PRICE: 4€

DRESSCODE: Overalls, green and other things fitting the theme!

Student Movie Day in Savonkinot 31.3.2026

On Tuesday, 31 March, Savon Kinot cinemas will celebrate Student Movie Day. Tickets to all screenings only 8 € per show with a valid student ID. Local showtimes will be announced and tickets go on sale on Tuesday, 24 March.

Trivia Night JEIS x Finnish student associations international coordinators

Are you ready to test your knowledge with fun questions and to win amazing prizes?

The international coordinators of UEF student associations and JEIS are organizing an international trivia night at Bepop Street on the 17th of March from 18.00 onwards!

Questions range from Finnish trivia and pop culture to the most random questions imaginable! The event has three rounds of questions and prizes can be won from each! More detailed information on the quiz will be announced at the event!

Come to meet new friends and have some fun!

The event follows the safer space guidelines of ISYY.

What? International trivia night
Where? at Bepop street 
When? 17th of March, from 18.00 onwards 
Cost? Free!!

 Varnitsa barn dance 

The history students’ association Varnitsa will be holding a barn dance event on Friday 10.4.2026 at Kerubi.

The event is interdisciplinary and we welcome international students to come experience Finnish dance tradition. The dress code is black & white. There will also be a live band playing at the event. Tickets are sold on Kide.app. 

Design a patch for the Historical Dances Club!

The Historical & Academic Dance and Music Society of Joensuu is in need of an overall patch!

Create up to two designs that can be put on overalls and/or used as the club’s logo. Submission deadline is 12th of April 2026. The chosen design will be rewarded as a form of commission.

The competition is open for everyone, while only club members have the right to vote. For inspiration, join us in Educa200 on Mondays, 18-20.

VOICES OF RESPECT - Art. Awareness. Action.

YUFE Civic Engagement Activities with JOMONI to Mark Anti-Racism Week through art and dialogue.

• Friday 20 March | 13:00 - 15:00
• JOMONI, 2nd Floor, Torikatu 9A, Joensuu

An art-based creative event to reflect on anti-racism, share ideas for a respectful and inclusive Joensuu, and connect with others.

Coffee, snacks, and art materials provided. Free event, welcome!

Free Finnish Language learning options in Joensuu

This list has been compiled by International House Joensuu.

International House Joensuu's nonstop courses 23.2.2026 - 20.5.2026

Aimed at three different language levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Every group meets up once a week for 8 weeks at a time.

More information: https://internationaljoensuu.fi/en/learn-finnish/

Jomoni’s language café

You can come to the language café to practice speaking Finnish. There are no lessons in the language café, but the purpose is to chat in Finnish and spend time together. You don't need to know much Finnish - everyone who is learning and speaking Finnish is welcome!

Schedule: 25.3; 8.4; 29.4; 6.5; 27.5; 3.6; 10.6. From 5 to 7 pm.
Address: Torikatu 9 A, 2nd floor.

More information: https://www.jomoni.fi/en/kielikahvila

Sumppi

Welcome to the language café!

Do you want to practice the Finnish language in a relaxed atmosphere, meet new people, and get to know Finnish culture? At Sumppi, language learning, community, and everyday encounters come together. You can participate on-site or online – wherever you are!

Language cafés are organized in different parts of North Karelia – check out the events and join us!

See the events here: https://sumppi.net/

Weekly Feed is the English language newsletter of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY). You are receiving this letter on your email because you are a member of ISYY and are studying at Joensuu campus or because you have joined the mailing list yourself. 

Weekly Feed provides you with current information on matters related to the Student Union, UEF or other organisations close to students, such as FSHS. In addition, the newsletter provides you with information on events taking place at campus or the campus city.

Weekly Feed is published on Tuesdays during the academic year, with the exception of holidays and a few other days. If you do not want to receive the newsletter anymore, you can unsubscribe the letter via the unsubscription link  located on the top of the letter. 

You will find more information on ISYY's newsletters  and data protection on ISYY's website.