Happy Tuesday!

Welcome back to the university and ISYY! We hope you have enjoyed the warm summer and have had enough time to recharge your batteries to face the autumn and the beginning of a new semester!

You are reading Weekly Feed, which is the English language newsletter of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY). You are receiving this letter to your email because you are a member of ISYY and are studying at Joensuu campus or because you have joined the mailing list yourself. If you do not wish to receive Weekly Feed anymore, just click here to unsubscribe.

Kind regards,

Joona Rantala | Coordinator of International Affairs, Joensuu Campus

Upcoming exceptions in ISYY office opening hours

There will be some exceptions in ISYY office opening hours. This week ISYY offices are open only from Monday to Wednesday, which means that our offices are closed on Thursday 14 August. 

On the first two weeks of September the offices are at your service also on Fridays.

Exceptions:

• Thursday 14 August CLOSED
• Friday 5 September open 10-14
• Friday 12 September open 10-14

ISYY Autumn Events in Joensuu

Below you can find a list of ISYY events in autumn. 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 Clásico football event 17.9.
• 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.

ISYY Representative Council elected new board for autumn 2025

ISYY's Representative Council elected a new Chair and Executive Board for the autumn 2025 in their meeting that was held 5.8.2025.

The Student Union elected Emilia Enroth as the Chair of the ISYY Executive Board. The other eight elected Board Members are the Vice Chair Jaana Sivula, Antton Gustafsson, Emilia Kivikoski, Inna Siimes, Kristiina Oinonen, Lassi Valli, Nox Herranen and Piritta Pennanen.

– I am grateful for the trust shown by the Representative Council. I look forward to starting the rest of the year with the new Executive Board and to working together to develop the activities of the Student Union, comments Emilia Enroth.

ISYY's Representative Council elections are coming!

The elections for the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland’s (ISYY) Representative Council will be held as electronic elections in autumn of 2025.

• Advance voting takes place on 27.–31.10.2025
• Actual voting day is 6.11.2025

The elections take place every other year and all ISYY members, which include for example degree students studying at UEF, can become candidates. The Representative Council guides the Student Union’s operations by deciding, for instance, the amount of the membership fee, action plan for each year, finances and direction of the Student Union’s future.

More detailed instructions on how to become a candidate and the schedule of the elections are published later in the Election announcement.

Registration for the next Academic Year ends on 15.9.

Hey continuing student! Registration for the UEF Academic Year 2025–2026 has started. Registration periods for the next academic year are:

• Registration for the year 2025–2026 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 for the upcoming academic year as well. 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!

ISYY Club Meetings

All currently listed club meetings are held weekly in ISYY's club room at ISYY's office located 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.

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

• Joensuu Board Gamers meeting Thu 3 pm - 8 pm

SYKETTÄ memberships on sale now!

SYKETTÄ memberships for the autumn 2025 and the academic year 2025-2026 are on sale. We recommend using the mobile application primarily. Download the mobile application to buy the membership and use the mobile sticker. The application is available free of charge under the name Sykettä. You can purchase the memberships also from ISYY office.

Old SYKETTÄ memberships will be valid until 31.8.2025.

SYKETTÄ sports calendar for the autumn 2025

The autumn 2025 SYKETTÄ sports calendar will be published on Wednesday 13.8.2025. The autumn season starts on 1.9.2025 and the free trial period and SYKETTÄ Appro will be held during the first two weeks. SYKETTÄ wishes all new and old users welcome, see you in September!

Access codes to SYKETTÄ gyms

Four gyms are available in SYKETTÄ Sports Services. A valid SYKETTÄ membership is required to use the gyms. Access rights to all gyms (except Aurora gym) are applied for on a separate form.

NB! Access rights to gyms are valid according to the validity of the SYKETTÄ membership, i.e. the form must be filled out again every time you purchase a new SYKETTÄ membership.

Upcoming events

• 23.8.2025 SYKETTÄ in Liikkeelle! -event
• 1.-14.9.2025 Free trial period and SYKETTÄ Appro
• 7.9.2025 Tour de Itä-Suomi cycling event
• 17.9.2025 El Clásico UEF vs. Karelia UAS football match

El Clásico photo: Mikko Kalavainen / @fotomikko

The Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year 2025–2026

The Opening Ceremony of the Academic Year 2025–2026 will be held on Joensuu campus on Thursday, 4 September 2025, at 1.15 p.m. in the Carelia Hall, Carelia building. Welcome! The Opening Ceremony can also be followed online starting at 1.15 p.m.

Ecumenical Opening Service of the Academic Year at the University of Eastern Finland wil be held in the Carelia Hall at 12.15–12.45 p.m.

UEF eLearn extra maintenance break today 12 August, 07:00-24:00

eLearn will be updated to Moodle 4.5 During the maintenance break, eLearn Moodle is out of use.

National Repository Library services available again

The relocation of the National Repository Library to its new premises has been completed. You can once again request materials from the National Repository Library through UEF's Interlibrary Services.

Come and chat about student life! 

Would you like to share thoughts and experiences about student life with other students? Feel free to join Nyyti’s group chats on Discord! Don’t worry about spelling or writing fluency – the most important thing is that you’re there! 

The English-language group chats are organized twice during the fall semester. Chat is anonymous and free of charge. Nyyti’s volunteers or staff members will always be there to chat with you. Mark the Upcoming Chats in Your Calendar: 

• 18.9. Excited, nervous, stressed – studying with mixed emotions? 
• 6.11. How to find friends? 

Kela's section for students has been renewed!

Kela has renewed the section of kela.fi for students! In this section, you will find information on student financial aid separately for higher education students and upper secondary students. 

In the reform, the information has been structured in a new way, the contents have been condensed and the big picture is easier to scrutinize. You can give feedback on the reform - visit the website and tell them what you think!

• Things for students to remember at the start of a new academic year
• Changes related to housing allowance for students

Delays in the processing of financial aid applications – students may have to wait for decisions and benefits

Kela has received a large number of applications for the housing supplement for students due to recent changes in the housing benefits available to students. As a result, the application processing times for student financial aid and the student housing supplement are longer than usual, and customers may have to wait for a decision on their application.

Parafest 13.-16.8.2025

Joensuu Parafest is an annual festival, that gives para artists a possibility to bring their art to audiences to see, hear and feel.

The festival is organised in the vicinity of Art Museum Onni, where the Parafest main festival tent will also be located. The programme isn't limited to this area, since there will be things to see, hear and feel also at the market square, university, Art Center Ahjo and at the Joensuu main library. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the art and the diverse side program. The event is accessible and free for everyone!

Joen Yö 15.8.2025

Downtown Joensuu will once again pulse with events as the city festival Joen Yö takes over the pedestrian center on August 15th with a diverse offering of art and culture. Joen Yö will spread across various parts of the city center, offering Joensuu’s cultural scene the city’s largest stage. In addition to local talent, the program will be enriched by nationally recognized artists with unique voices.

UniPID Virtual Studies Programme 2025-2026 | Registration open now

The UniPID Virtual Studies Programme aims to offer equal opportunities for students to learn about global development and sustainability, with a specific focus on Global South perspectives.

All courses are conducted in English, free for students at our member universities. Each course is worth 5 ECTS and can be integrated into the students’ curriculum. With varied registration and course dates, students can find the perfect fit for their schedules.

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.