Happy Tuesday!

ISYY's Smile and Complaints week is yet again here, there are changes in ISYY staff at both Joensuu and Kuopio, ISYY's Member survey is still open for answers, the student calendar design competition has begun and the legendary Savo-Karjala excursion still has some tickets available.

Soon it is also time for Vappu! It is celebrated yearly on April 30th-May 1st and it is the traditional celebration of the spring and also the biggest student celebration of the year!  You can find ISYY's Vappu Events in Joensuu here!

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

ISYY's Smile's and Complaints week is here!

Now it is time to give some feedback and acknowledgement once again! What recharges your batteries while studying? What is draining them? Tell us the positive and negative factors during Smiles and Complaints Week!

During the Smiles and Complaints Week, you can send feedback via ISYY to the University, FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service), campus restaurants, libraries or any other party involved in students' life. That includes us of course!

In addition to this, it is now possible to give feedback face-to-face to Board Members in both Kuopio and Joensuu:

• Joensuu: 15 April in Carelia lobby from 11 am to 12 pm
• Kuopio: 17 April in Snellmania lobby from 12 pm to 1 pm

Answer ISYY member survey and win a 50€ gift card to S Group!

What do you think ISYY should focus on? How has the service been in the Student Union office? Do you know what you get as you pay the membership fee to ISYY? How ISYY could improve its office services or communications? Tell us!

The Student Union of Eastern Finland (ISYY) has launched a member survey, which purpose is to collect information about how familiar our members are with the Student Union and its services, to collect feedback about our services and also ideas how to improve our services and activities.

The survey is open until the end of 19 April 2026 and all those who answered can join a raffle where we will hand out total of eight 50,00 € gift cards to S Group, four on both of our campuses.

Savo-Karjala Excursion is waiting for you!

There are still few tickets left for the Savo-Karjala Excursion in Joensuu. Grab yours on kide.app and join us for the wildest May Day adventure!

What will ISYY's Student Calendar for the next Academic Year look like?

The Student Calendar of ISYY is carried along daily by many students of UEF. Next autumn your design might be the cover of our popular calendar!

Does your heart beat for graphic design, drawing or photography? Want fame and fortune? Now it is your chance to shine! Let loose your creative self and win a 100€ gift card to S-Group. The competition ends 14.5.2026.

Instructions for the competition and details of the design can be found from ISYY website.

Today at Coffee & Friends: SYKETTÄ

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:

• 21.4. Quizzes

Get the ISYY lyre for your Student Cap!

Did you know that you can purchase a lyre of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY) to your Student Cap to symbolise your own university community?

Vappu (May Day) is soon and in Finland it is a tradition that students wear their student caps on Vappu Eve and Vappu Day. The standard lyre that can be seen in most of the Finnish Student Caps is a symbol for the Matriculation Examination but also a symbol of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. There is also own lyres to symbolise, e.g. the Vocational Upper Secondary Qualification or the International Baccalaureate.

Student Unions has their own lyres that symbolises the university community. A university student can purchase the lyre for their Student Cap to replace the old lyre.

A lyre costs only 5,00 € and they are sold from ISYY offices, welcome!

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)

SYKETTÄ spring season

The SYKETTÄ spring season for guided group exercise will end gradually starting from week 16, with the final classes taking place in week 19. After this, the schedule will include ball game sessions and open dance turns.
More detailed information about the summer season will be updated during the spring. At Mehtimäki Hall, there will be badminton sessions and open dance turns.

The Kilometrikisa

Registration for the Kilometrikisa is now open!
The challenge runs from May 1 to September 30, 2026.

Kilometrikisa is a fun team-based competition where participants log their cycling kilometres and contribute to their team’s total distance. 

Anyone can join the SYKETTÄ team! Registration code: SykettaK26

SYKETTÄ regular turn application for student and staff groups 2026-2027

UEF and Karelia UAS student and staff groups can apply for regular turn. Application forms is now open and will close on 10.5.2026 at 23:55 o' clock.

Each turn must have 1-2 responsible persons. The turn cannot be granted before it has at least one responsible person. Responsible persons have to check that everybody, who are participating, has a valid SYKETTÄ membership. Responsible persons will also take care of general order, report the number of participants and if necessary cancel the turn by contacting SYKETTÄ staff members. Detailed instructions are sent to applicants in August.

Regular turn will be 55 minutes (e.g. at 7pm-7:55pm). We recommend, that smaller groups (on average under 10 participants per turn) apply in cooperation with another group.

Please prepare for changes in library services during the summer

There will be changes to the library’s summer opening hours. This coming summer, the Joensuu and Kuopio Campus Libraries will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8 to 15, with customer service available from 10 to 15. On Wednesdays, we will be open as usual from 8 to 18, with customer service from 10 to 18.

For the first time, we will experiment with a summer closure at the Kuopio Campus Library during the quietest period in July, 6–26 July 2026. However, you will still be able to access the facilities with a 24/7 access badge. If you do not yet have an access badge, please make sure to get one in advance!

The Joensuu Campus Library will remain open throughout the summer. Loan periods at both locations will extend beyond the Kuopio closure.

Spring Celebration 2026 – Where History Dances to Life!

Get ready for an unforgettable journey through mu sic, movement, and merriment! This spring, we’re blending traditions from across Europe and beyond in a festival that’s as lively as it is historical.

• Music from Around the World
• Group dances
• Interactivity
• Potluck Table

WHEN: Saturday 18.4., 18:00 – 21:00
WHERE: Educa, E200 (Tulliportinkatu 1)
COST: Free!

Game Night! Come play and learn about the UNESCO Biospheres

Looking for some relaxed hangout time and something new to try? Bring your friends along to a game night where you can test a developing biosphere reserve game and learn more about UNESCO biospheres while playing.

There will also be snacks and pizza! Please register so we can plan the catering.

WHEN? Mon 20 April, starting at 18:00
WHERE? Joensuu, University campus, Metria building (M110)
COST? Free!
REGISTRATION? By 17 April

Summer Opening 23.5.2026

The Summer Opening event will take place at the Joensuu Market Square on Saturday, 23 May 2026, from 9:00 to 17:00.

The event marks the official start of the summer season across North Karelia. This one‑day market event brings together regional tourism operators, North Karelian villages, and a wide range of attractions — including companies, summer theatres, and the most exciting events of the upcoming season.

We invite you to join the event and bring along your village’s cultural actors, small businesses, local delicacies, and unique specialties.

Pause. Breathe. Learn skills for student life.

Student life can be exciting and meaningful – but also demanding, stressful and full of uncertainty. Many students struggle with concentration, sleep, pressure, loneliness, or feeling overwhelmed. Mindfulness offers simple, practical skills to help you meet these challenges with more clarity, balance, and kindness. .

This short three-week English-speaking online group gives you a gentle introduction to mindfulness and how it can support your wellbeing in everyday student life.

The group sessions will be held on Wednesday, May 20th - June 3rd, 2026 from 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm on Zoom. Free places are available for students via Nyyti.

Application is now open for this group, so welcome to join!

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.