Last Weekly Feed for the semester!

Are you spending the summer in Finland? After the long winter and a few winter comebacks (Finns use the word ‘takatalvi’, see description here) summer is finally approaching fast so in the honor of this last Weekly Feed, we collected a list of (Finnish) things for you to do in your campus city this summer!

TLDR; Summer in Finland is beautiful yet painfully short, so you’d better enjoy it - here is some tips on how:

• Swim in the lake (Fun fact: Finns call the first outdoor swim after the winter as 'throwing away your winter fur'). You can swim in Linnunlahti beach, Ilosaari, Pataluoto, Utra, Honkaniemi or Aavaranta, for example. List of beaches in Joensuu.
• Pick some forest berries (such as bilberries, raspberries and bog bilberries) and make a pie of the mixed berries you found.
• Visit a strawberry farm and pick your own strawberries
• Have a picnic
• Have a water gun fight
• Visit nearby nature trails (such as Kuhasalo, Utra islands, Noljakka nature trails, Elovaara, Lykynlampi, Kalliojärvi, Rauanvaara, Helvetinportti nature trail or Koli hiking routes) 
• Read a book on the beach or on your balcony
• Visit the arboretum of Linnunlahti to see rhododendrons bloom! (The arboretum is located on Vainonniementie on the intersection to Vainonniemen villa) 
• Visit the Sinkkola petting zoo in Noljakka
• Eat ice cream
• Visit the cafés and restaurants that are open only during the summer! They are located around the city centre.
• Make an garland / flower crown (Youtube instructions)
• Grill sausages on a campfire (here is a map of campfire spots or lean-to's in North Karelia)
• Watch midsummer’s bonfire (in Joensuu, there's usually one at Jokiasema)
• Try traditional midsummer’s night spells (read more here and here) 
• Try SUP boarding 
• Play the ultimate Finnish outdoor game - Mölkky
• Try frisbeegolf (here is a map of all courses)
• Craft a käpylehmä (this is a very old Finnish thing, it translates as 'pinecone cow' and older people often say that they were the only toys available back in the day!)
• Relax!

With these tips, have a great summer everyone! The first newsletter of autumn semester will be published on Tuesday 12 August – see you then! If you want to send us material for the first newsletters, please do that by Tuesday 5 August.

P.S. If you have rented a Survival Package from ISYY, remember to return it by Friday 6 June to ISYY office. I will be present from 2 June to 6 June 11 am - 3 pm, even though the office is closed.

Kind regards,

Joona Rantala | Coordinator of International Affairs, Joensuu Campus

Office opening hours during summer and last Weekly Feed

ISYY offices are on summer holiday 12.6.-3.8. (closed) and will be back at your service after the holiday on Monday 4 August. Before the holidays we will be at your service as follows:

• until Wed 28 May according to opening hours
• 29 May closed (Ascension Day)
• 2.-11.6. only by prior appointment via email or phone:

      toimisto.joensuu(at)isyy.fi
      tel. +358 44 576 8449

This is the last newsletter of this spring. The first newsletter of the autumn will be published on Tuesday 12 August.

Return your Survival Package on Friday 6 June at the latest!

You can return your Survival Package any day before the deadline within ISYY office opening hours. The offices are officially closed from 2 June onwards, but Joona will be present to receive packages on that week every day from Monday to Friday, 11 AM - 3 PM. Just knock on the door!

You will be refunded the deposit of 30€ if the package is returned complete, in good condition and clean. If someone else is returning the package for you, inform Joona in advance and keep in mind that the deposit is given to the one returning the package in cash. Any broken, dirty, or missing items will be deducted from the deposit!

What did you think of the Survival Package? Give us feedback and help us improve the service: Survival Package feedback form.

New student calendars will be ready to be collected in autumn!

Save the date: autumn events

Summer is soon here and now is a good time to save some event dates to your calendar for autumn 2025. Below you can find a list of ISYY events that we already know at the moment. The best way to keep up with our events is to follow our newsletters and our event calendar on our website.

Autumn events for Joensuu:

• SYKETTÄ Joensuu Appro and free sports trial 1.-14.9.
• UEF opening ceremony of the academic year in Joensuu 4.9.
• Student Blast - Academic Year Kick-off 4.9.
• City Orienteering and After Party 4.9.
• El Clasico football event 17.9.
• Tour de Itä-Suomi Cycling Event in Joensuu 7.9.
• Wellbeing Week 29.9.-5.10.
• Sports Afternoon 1.10.
• Association Days 21.-22.10. (Tue-Wed in Joensuu, Wed in Kuopio)
• Independence Day Torch Parade 6.12.

Kuopio Pride 7 June

ISYY is participating in Kuopio Pride on Saturday 7 June. Equality and transparency are important values for ISYY. ISYY encourages all its members to take part in the Pride parade and park festival, as well as to wear student overalls to form a rainbow.

Parade will leave behind Kuopio Adult Education Centre (Kuopion kansalaisopisto) at 2 pm, and it ends at the Snellman park.

ISYY has its own area in Snellman park that brings together all students. The first 150 students at the ISYY’s picnic-area will be given ISYY's Pride-Hemmo overall patch as a memory.

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

SYKETTÄ website will be transferred 26.- 28.5.

SYKETTÄ will launch a new website and mobile application between 26.-28.5 and the services will be unavailable during the transfer. Three days have been reserved for the transfer, but the new website and app may be in use even earlier. During the transfer, the old SYKETTÄ website will not be in use.

NB! SYKETTÄ will inform users when the app is available for download, so please do not download the app until the latest updated version is in the app stores!

SYKETTÄ stickers for the autumn 2025 and the academic year 2025-2026 will be on sale 23.6.2025

You can buy SYKETTÄ mobile stickers for the autumn and the next academic year from 23.6.2025 on our online shop. Stickers are valid from 1.7.2025. We recommend reading the SYKETTÄ terms of use before purchasing the sticker.

Download the mobile application to use the mobile sticker. Physical SYKETTÄ stickers are available from the ISYY office from 4.8.2025. Old SYKETTÄ stickers will be valid until 31.8.2025.

Gym access applications in summer

New access code requests to Portti54 and Tikkarinne gyms must be made by 24.6.2025. Access codes will be added again in the autumn starting 4.8.2025.

Portti54 gym is open throughout the summer Mon-Sun from 4:30am to 11:59pm. Tikkarinne gym is closed between 16.6.-10.8. The gym will open again for SYKETTÄ users with normal opening hours from 11.8.

Registration for the next Academic Year begins 1 June

Hey continuing student! Registration for the UEF Academic Year 2025–2026 will begin this week on Sunday 1 June.

Registration periods for the next academic year are:

• Registration for the year 2024–2025 begins on 1 June and ends on 15 September 2025
• Registration ONLY for the spring semester 2026 is 1.11.2025–15.1.2026

When you register as a present student and you pay the ISYY membership fee at the same time, you’ll get all of our member services also for the next academic year. ISYY membership will help you during your studies, e.g. with our interest advocacy services. Get to know all of our member services by going through our website, and you’ll make to most of your membership!

Join the first UEF EU Forum on 4 June at 12:00–13:00 (Teams)

Join the first forum of the EU Foresight and Influence Expert Network, where the results of the ongoing EU Horizon Europe framework program's interim evaluation and recommendations for the new EU FP10 program will be analyzed and discussed. The aim of the event is to convey strategic foresight information to refine this information through discussion to make it relevant for UEF members.

Oppari's student services opening hours during summer

26 May 2025 – 31 August 2025

Mon-tue, thu-fri at 10 am – 3 pm

Wed at 10 am - 6 pm

Opening hours of Joensuu campus restaurants

You can find the opening hours of Joensuu campus restaurants in summer 2025 from this Viva Engage post by Facilities Management.

Several exceptions to library opening hours in May

Joensuu Campus Library is closed on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 May 2025 due to library’s development and staff wellbeing days. However, the facilities are available to customers with a personal 24/7 access badge. 

Due to Ascension Day, all library offices will close on Wednesday 28 May 2025 as early as 1 pm and will be closed on Thursday 29 May 2025.

The slightly narrower opening hours of the summer will take effect at all library offices from Monday 26 May 2025. You can find them, and the exceptional opening hours mentioned above, on our website. 

KELA: Housing benefits for students about to change in August

Students will be transferred under a new housing supplement scheme in August. The majority of students can get the new student housing supplement from the beginning of the autumn term 2025. Plese go and read on Kela's website what you as a student should know about the changes in housing allowances.

Hi! Hej! Hey! Pryvit! Privet! Mrhban! Salve! Hola! Ciao! Merhaba! Āyubōvan! Salam! S̄wạs̄dī! Xin chào!

Interested in cultures, languages, and the arts – or just looking for a great summer vibe?

Head to downtown Joensuu on Thursday, June 26, 2025, starting at 11 a.m., when the multicultural Joen Kieku Summer Carnival takes over the city center. The event is free and open to everyone.

What sounds most exciting to you?

• Dance, music, and theatre performances on the town square stage throughout the day
• Delicious ethnic dishes from local restaurants at the Food Market
• A kids’ corner with a bouncy castle and face painting
•  Language and art workshops in the Taitokortteli Cultural Corner, plus an Open Mic stage
• A theatrical walking tour exploring the fascinating history of the Pielisjoki River
• A free evening concert by the charming and internationally acclaimed Joalin

Last year, the carnival attracted over 10,000 visitors. Join us for an unforgettable summer day!

More information about the event:

Instagram: @kiekujoensuu & @theatre_rankids

YouTube: @MahdollisuuksienMatkalaukut

Voluntary weeding of Himalayan balsam in Joensuu

Take part in helping your local biodiversity and come weed invasive Himalayan balsam with us! Beautiful overall patch provided in exchange for 2 hour voluntary work. Check the event places and dates below. All events are from 5pm to 7pm.

• Marjala: Mon 9.6., Mon 16.6., Fri 27.6. and Tue 8.7.
• Niinivaara: Wed 11.6., Wed 9.7. and Thu 24.7
• Utra: 18.6. and 16.7.
• Rantakylä: 2.7. and 30.7.
• Kuhasalo: Mon 23.6., Mon 14.7. and Mon 4.8.
• Karsikko: Tue 24.6. and Tue 22.7.
• Hukanhauta: Wed 25.6. and Wed 23.7.
• Noljakka: Thu 26.6., Thu 17.7. and Thu 31.7.
• Mutala: Mon 30.6. and Mon 21.7

 Events are organized by Joensuu Nature Conservation Association.

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.