Happy Tuesday!

Vappu is getting closer and closer! 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!

The weather is great this week, but there is a wildfire warning in effect in Northern Karelia since the ground is too dry. When this warning is in force, it's forbidden to light an open fire. An open fire refers to a campfire or other similar use of fire, in which the fire may get out of control, either along the ground or as flying sparks. Disposable grills are also considered open fires. So if you were planning on grilling sausages or marshmallows at a campfire this week, please avoid doing so.

You can still go for a hike and enjoy the fresh air! You'll find a list of nature trails in Joensuu and its surrounding areas here. If you're looking for more information about wildfire warnings, check the Finnish Meteorological Institute's website. They also have an active map of all warnings in effect in Finland.

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

Upcoming exceptions in ISYY Joensuu office opening hours

• Thursday 30 April (May Eve): CLOSED
• Thursday 14 May (Ascension Day: CLOSED

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.

ISYY attended SYL International sector meeting 16.-17.4. in Helsinki.

ISYY’s participants were Coordinator of International Affairs Joona and board members Bharath and Sofia. The sector meeting was centered around how to raise issues affecting international students during the upcoming parliamentary elections. 

On Thursday we met Member of Parliament Alviina Alametsä. We had a great time envisioning the future and conversing on how to make the issues of international students and internationality more pertinent. After that we got to hear about the international employment voucher of the city of Helsinki and visited the Academic Society of Technology to learn about their advocacy work.

On Friday we visited the Central Chamber of Commerce, got an EU Policy Overview and thought about the opportunities for student movements to influence EU Policy and ended the meeting with a workshop by SYL regarding bringing international perspectives into the political discourse.

Big thanks to SYL, all the people we met and to other student unions for this inspiring meeting!

Welcome to ISYY's Interest Advocacy Coffee Break in Joensuu on Monday 27 April!

ISYY’s Interest Advocacy Coffee Break in Joensuu is held on Monday 27 April 2026, from 4 pm to 6 pm in room AU102 (Aurora Building, Yliopistokatu 2).

Interest Advocacy Coffee Break is a relaxed discussion event open to all members interested in student advocacy. The event offers an opportunity to share thoughts and discuss current issues related to student wellbeing, rights, and everyday life together with a representative of the ISYY board, and student association actives. Light refreshments will be served. You don’t need to register for the event in advance.

This time the themes include ISYY’s bullying survey, and the summer income support, that has been widely discussed among students.

ISYY Member Survey response time extended, answer and you may win a 50€ gift card for S Group!

Earlier this spring we opened a Member Survey and we have now decided to extend its response time until Sunday 10 May at 23.59. The purpose of the survey is to collect data regarding how well (or not so well) familiar our Student Union is, and how we can improve our services or events. Every response is important!

Filling up the survey takes approx. 10 minutes and it’s anonymous. After finishing the survey, you can leave your contact information via separate form to participate in a raffle. We will raffle a total of eight (8) S Group gift cards, each worth 50€.

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

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.

Free Jippo home match event for students this Saturday at Mehtimäki

Free Jippo home match for students on Sat April 25 at Mehtimäki! Pre-match program from 15:00 (gates open): Jippo Match Card competition with prizes and raffle, football curling and beer pong. Arrive early – first visitors get Jippo patches. Drinks at student prices (18+).

• Jippo vs SJK Akatemia
• Sat April 25 at 16:00
• Mehtimäki (artificial turf)

May Day opening hours at the library

Joensuu and Kuopio campus libraries are open on Thursday 30 April 2026 from 8 am to 2 pm (customer service from 10 am to 2 pm). Both campus libraries are closed on Friday 1 May 2026. On Saturday 2 May, Joensuu campus library is open from 10 am to 2 pm and Kuopio campus library is closed. Kuopio campus library is closed on Saturdays in May. The 24/7 self-study facilities are open despite these exceptions.

Course information for 2026–2027 published in Peppi

Information on the courses offered in the academic year 2026–2027 and their scheduling by semester has been published in Peppi’s study guide.

More detailed information on teaching, including schedules and classroom locations (course implementations), will be published by the end of July.

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.

Jomoni's New Finnishness Day 12.5.2026  

Welcome to celebrate diverse Finland on May 12th from 10 am to 2 pm at Pakkahuone (Rantakatu 2, Joensuu)! 
The event contains diverse programme from music performances to guided activities. The theme this year is the power of community.  

The event is free of charge and open to all. New Finnishness Day is coordinated by the Joensuu District Multicultural Association (JoMoni).  

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.