Happy Tuesday everyone!

The ultimate student holiday is here! It’s time to grab your overalls (and your high school graduation cap) and head for a May Day -themed picnic among other festive students. May Day is usually considered as a holiday celebrating workers, but in Finland it is truly taken over by higher education students with their carnival traditions.

30th April is the day for student celebrations - there’s usually a student cavalcade and traffic is closed so students can parade through the city waving student organisation flags and sporting their student organisation overalls and high school graduation caps.

The traditional vappu picnic feast includes delicacies such as a sugar-coated doughnut (munkki) and funnel cake (tippaleipä), which is coated with powdered sugar. To wash all the sugar down Finns usually drink sima - a sweet, sparkling low-alcoholic beverage which is made by fermenting honey, sugar, water and lemon. Traditional sima also includes a few raisins. You can read more about Finnish vappu food from This is Finland -website.

Have a fun May Day! / Hauskaa vappua!

Kind regards,

Joona Rantala | Coordinator of International Affairs, Joensuu Campus

Exceptions to the ISYY offices opening hours

ISYY offices are closed:

• Wed-Thu 30.4.-1.5. due to May Day

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 Representative Council Meeting's Decisions 2/2025

The Representative Council of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY) held its second meeting of 2025 on Wednesday 9 April. The meeting minutes were published on Wednesday 16 April in Finnish in the Documents section under the Representative Council folder on ISYY’s website, but you can read the summarised version of the decisions in English on ISYY's website linked below.

The next meeting of the ISYY Council is held on 15 May 2025.

What will the 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 15.5.2025.

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

New face at the Joensuu office

Pinja Laine has started as a part-time office worker! You may have already met Pinja if you’ve visited ISYY’s Joensuu office, maybe if you’ve loaned some badminton rackets - or this Finnish yard game called “Mölkky” presented in the picture?

– It’s been nice to work at the office and be part of ISYY’s activities, comments Pinja.

Welcome Pinja!

Soon, the entire music world will gather around TV screens to watch the Eurovision 2025 final broadcast, which will air live from Switzerland on Saturday 17 May! 

This time, you don't have to watch the performances alone: ISYY is organizing a top-notch viewing party for its students in both Kuopio and Joensuu. So gather your friends and Eurovision spirit, and come spend a fantastic Eurovision night with us in Joensuu at Youth Center Whisper, Torikatu 17, 80100 Joensuu at 9.30 PM. We especially want to promote this event to our international students, as music is a wonderful way to bring people together. 

Note: Entry to Whisper in the evening is through the lower door at Niskakatu 7, as the shopping center will be closed. We will let people in every half hour starting at 9.30 PM (9.30 PM, 10.00 PM, etc.), so you don't need to arrive right at the beginning of the event.

During the Eurovision night, we will cheer for our favorite performers. There will be a chance to play Eurovision Bingo, with prizes for the lucky winners. We will also provide yummy snacks, and you are also welcome to bring your own food. However, please leave alcoholic beverages at home, as the event is alcohol-free.

Please register for the event on KideApp so that the event organizers can prepare the necessary amount of food and other activities.

What: Eurovision Viewing Party

Where: Youth Center Whisper, Torikatu 17, 80100 Joensuu

When: Sat 17 May at 9.30 PM - Sun 18 May at 2.00 AM

Cost: The event is free for ISYY members

What to bring: Snacks if you wish

ISYY's Vappu (May Day) Eve programme

Vappu is the biggest celebration of the year for Finnish students. On Vappu Eve, 30 April, you can attend ISYY's Vappu traditions on both campuses. ISYY gathers all university students to celebrate Vappu together wit our old traditions.

Vappu Eve traditions begins with Capping of the Alkukivet statue organised by Täky ry. After that ISYY's Vappu Parade will begin from Carelia all the way to the Ilosaari. During the Parade we will perform the Capping of the Kanavatyttö statue. At the Ilosaari we will hear the Vappu Speech of the Student Union, live music and for the second time we'll see the Teekkari dipping in Joensuu.

Timetable

• 3 pm Capping of the Alkukivet (organiser: Täky ry)
• 3.15 pm Start of the Parade from Carelia to Ilosaari
• Students' Vappu Event at Ilosaari from 4 pm to 6 pm
• 4 pm Vappu Speech of the Student Union (Ville-Pekka Timonen, Chair of the Representative Council)
• 4.15 pm Teekkari Dipping
• 4.45 pm UEF Choir JOY
• 5.00 RytmiHäiriköt

Welcome to celebrate the traditional and joyful May Day at Joensuu Market Square!

9:00 - 9:30 Joensuu Wind Orchestra & Male Singers on the Market Stage

10:30 May Day March. The parade starts from the Sports Hall, moving along Siltakatu towards the square.

Around 11:00 - 11:30 Market Celebration and May Day Speeches

13:00 - 14:00 Parade of Old Cars

Additionally, at the market square, you will find the Marttakahvio, vendors selling May Day balloons and candies, market traders, and the Vesikioski opening its summerseason at Keskuskuja.

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 already next week 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 Mariculation 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!

Mayday! May Day, Vappu is here!

"Vappu, 1st of May is known as a festival for students and workers. For Finnish students, the festival has been familiar since childhood, when Vappu included balloons, streamers and donuts. Now, as University students, we are all excited to put on our overalls and celebrate together."

Our international sector's Executive Board members Kristiina Oinonen and Piritta Pennanen wrote a blog post for our international students who might not be that familiar with Finnish vappu yet. Read the whole post on ISYY's website.

ISYY Club Meetings

All club meetings (except Academic & Historical Dance Joensuu & JEIS) are held weekly in ISYY's meeting room in Haltia-building, 2nd floor (Yliopistokatu 7).

More information and a full list of ISYY's clubs in Joensuu can be found on ISYY's webpage: ISYY Clubs in Joensuu

• Magic The Gathering Guild meeting Mon 3 pm - 8 pm
• Academic & Historical Dance Joensuu Mon 6 pm - 8 pm (Educa, E200)
• Joensuu's Exchange and International Students Mon 4 pm - 6 pm (Aurora, AU206)
• LUOMIO! Literary Arts club Tue 6 pm - 8 pm 
• JOOJAKU meeting Wed 4 pm - 8 pm
• Joensuu Board Gamers meeting Thu 3 pm - 8 pm
• ISYY Chess Club meeting Fri 4 pm - 8 pm

Come and get your bike serviced for the summer during Cycling week!

National Cycling week is held between 2.-11.5.2025. In honor of the week, SYKETTÄ will organize a bike service point on Thursday 8.5. at Carelia campus of UEF at 8am-10am and 2pm-4pm. SYKETTÄ saddle covers and overall badges are available. Limited number of badges and saddle covers!

At the bike service point you can get:

• Air in your tires
• Lubrication for chair
• Help with minor bike adjustments

SYKETTÄ is looking for new instructors for autumn 2025

Do you want to be part of the SYKETTÄ instructing team? We are especially looking for instructors, who are able to instruct a wide variety of classes. We are also open to new ideas, feel free to suggest anything!

We are especially looking for instructors for the following classes:

• Early bird's water aerobics
• Instructed skating
• Instructed gym for university staff

The course offerings for 2025-2026 are available – the aim is to support timely planning of studies

The basic information on the courses offered in the academic year 2025–2026 has been compiled by faculty and is now available on Kamu. The service is new, and the purpose is to assist students in planning their studies for the next academic year earlier than in previous years.

The course offerings website includes courses offered by faculty.

The current uef-open visitor network "uef-open" will be replaced by a new visitor network solution

Why the renewal:

• The current wireless visitor network does not meet today's security requirements.
• At the same time, we are also improving the security of other wireless networks such as SEB.

What’s replacing it:

• The new visitor network solution will be the Eduroam Visitor Access (eVA) service, provided by Funet, which leverages the existing Eduroam network.
• The visitor will receive a personalised day password via SMS, which will allow the identified visitor to access the Eduroam network

When the change will occur:

• The change will be phased in starting in early 2025, removing the uef-open network and introducing the Eduroam Visitor Access (eVA) service.
• In the first phase, the visitor network will be changed from public areas such as auditoriums, lobbies and part of the meeting rooms.
• In the next phase, the facilities and conference rooms.
• In the last phase, research equipment etc.

What the visitor needs to do:

An instruction page has been added to the info TV screen feeds in the University's public lobbies. Instructions will also be posted on the notice boards and in the conference rooms.

• The service has a password that changes daily and the telephone number is fixed.
• The host of the event (staff member ) can retrieve the visitor's password for the day from the intranet at eVA or https://eva.uef.fi/ (requires UEF network access).

Graduating soon? Done with your thesis?

A university degree prepares students for scientific research, one key principle of which is openness. The University of Eastern Finland is committed to supporting the principles of open science and research, and strongly recommends Master’s theses and licentiate theses to be published with Open Access. Dissertations are always published, and a publishing agreement is made for dissertations that are published as a part of the UEF publication series.

Every year, UEF Library raffles off a grant worth EUR 100 among UEF students who have made their master’s thesis publicly available.

Sign up by submitting the form below once your master’s thesis has been published online.

International House Joensuu Non-Stop Language Courses in Spring/Summer

Come and learn Finnish in a fun and interactive way by listening, speaking and doing. The courses are free of charge! Timetable for the courses is 12.5.2025-2.7.2025.

IHJ courses are held at Luotsi at Koskikatu 5 (Carelicum). For the evening courses, the entrance is in Torikatu 21 C.

Non-Stop Beginners Group

• If you don't know a word of Finnish yet or very little Finnish
• Mondays from 10AM to 11:30AM - Starting From 12.5.2025
• Tuesdays from 5PM to 6:30PM - Starting From 13.5.2025

Non-Stop Intermediate Group

• If you have already participated in a beginners' group, you already know the basics of the beginners' group, and you already speak some Finnish.
• Wednesdays from 10AM to 11:30AM - Starting From 14.5.2025
• Wednesdays from 5PM to 6:30PM - Starting From 14.5.2025

Non-Stop Advanced Group

• If you can already communicate in Finnish in everyday situations.
• Mondays from 5PM to 6:30PM - Starting from 12.5.2025

Registration for courses only via e-mail: registration.internatinationalhouse(at)joensuu.fi When registering, be sure to mention your name, your phone number and/or your email and which course you want to register for.

Welcome to the wildest ball of the year!

Hoist the Black Flag! - Pirate Ball
03.05.2025 at 13.00–20.00 at Kerhotalo Rupla.

Historical dance ball organized by the University's Campus Club Academic & Historical Dance Society Joensuu.

Free admission, delicious buffet 10€, tickets at the door and from Kide App.
Dance rehearsals will be organized before the ball.

More information on our website and Instagram @historiallinentanssijns!

Sport Me Up Business Idea Competition is Now Open – Apply and Win €3,500!

Do you have an idea that gets people moving and feeling better – or brings a sense of community and the joy of exercise to Mehtimäki? Sign up for the Sport Me Up Business Idea Competition by April 30, 2025, and you could win €3,500 to bring your idea to life!

The competition is organized by TestLab Mehtimäki in cooperation with Business Joensuu and is part of the project "Mehtimäki's Wellbeing and Physical Activity Testing Station – New Business, Services, and Entrepreneurship". The competition is open to students, individuals, sports clubs and entrepreneurs.

What Kind of Ideas Are We Looking For?
We are looking for business ideas with potential to develop into ventures within the field of physical activity and wellbeing. The idea should support business development in the Mehtimäki area. Your idea can be:

• A service that can be provided at Mehtimäki
• A service concept that enhances the areas event offerings
• A product that serves the users of the areas
• Any other kind of innovation

Are you interested in learning where to get help if a loved one is experiencing difficulties with memory? Do you know how to recognize dementia symptoms in your close ones?

Come to chat with Sakari Mattila, an expert from Pohjois-Karjalan Muisti ry, on this important topic! You’ll have the chance to talk personally and confidentially, receiving individual advice with no appointment necessary.
Pohjois-Karjalan Muisti ry will be available for walk-in consultations for immigrants at Carelicum (Koskikatu 5) this spring:

• Wed, May 7, 2025, 12:00–14:00

Pick up a number at a machine at International House Joensuu when you arrive. You will be served in the order of arrival. We offer services in Finnish and English without a translator. If you need an interpreter to another language, we will arrange it for you. You don’t need to be a client of International House Joensuu to get this service.

This service, along with interpretation, is provided free of charge.
These walk-in hours are specifically for immigrants and are organized in collaboration with the "Maahanmuuttajien osallistaminen muistisairauksien hoitopolulle" project. The project aims to support immigrants in accessing dementia care services.

AG League Of Legends OSM 2025

Prove your strength! The League of Legends OSM 2025 is here! Compete in Finland's largest League of Legends student tournament and earn your cut of the 1000€ prize pool!

The games will be streamed and casted on AG Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/aaltogamers

WHEN: Qualifiers - Saturday, 17.5 / Finals - Saturday, 24.5
WHERE: Online Qualifiers, AG Discord & Live Finals, Otaniemi

Rules and more info on the official tournament page: https://osm.aaltogamers.fi/ All skill levels welcome, but note that all team members must be university/AMK students or recent graduates (graduated after 1.1.2024).

Register with your full team here: https://aaltogamers.fi/link/osmsignup

More information about the event will be posted on Aalto Gamers Telegram
(http://aaltogamers.fi/link/telegram) & Discord
(https://discord.com/invite/QKcst3UBdB)!

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.