Happy Tuesday!

It's the twelfth wellbeing week at the University of Eastern Finland, Coffee & Friends events are starting again, The all star student teams of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and Karelia University of Applied Sciences (Karelia UAS) face each other for the third time in El Clásico this week, nominations for the representative council are open until the start of October... So mant things going on and it's only the third week of the semester!

Did you know that ISYY has a miscellaneous selection of different equipment to loan for sports and hobby activities? Whether you are going to play badminton, or Finnish yard game Mölkky with you friends, we have the equipment for you. Come to the ISYY office, explore our selection, and maybe try something completely new. The choice is yours! If you'd like to play sports with someone, try the Sports Buddy Service of SYKETTÄ or if you're looking for a new friend to hang out with who is interested in similar things as you, try ISYY's Hobby Buddy service.

The ISYY offices have reverted back to regular opening hours on both campuses, so come by if you need to visit the office for any reason, we are here to help you! 

Our opening hours this week:

• Mon, Tue, Thu 10-12 & 13-15, Wed 12-16
• Fridays closed

P.S. Yesterday was the last day to register as a present student to the University if you are planning on studying this autumn. If you missed the deadline, you can find instructions for what to do in Kamu.

Kind regards,

Joona Rantala | Coordinator of International Affairs, Joensuu Campus

Wellbeing Week

Wellbeing Week will be held for the twelfth time at the University of Eastern Finland from 29 September to 4 October 2025. The aim of the Wellbeing Week is to offer UEF students and staff a wellbeing promoting program throughout the week. During Wellbeing Week, a variety of activities will be organised to provide tools to increase one's own wellbeing and support the ability to concentrate.

During Wellbeing Week, a variety of activities will be organised, for example, the Finnish Kennel Club's Care Dogs will visit campuses and a lecture aimed at international students will offer tips on how to survive the Finnish winter and polar night. SYKETTÄ sports services will organize the traditional Sports Afternoon on Wed 1 October. Week will culminate with two separate day trips: from Kuopio to Tahko and from Joensuu to Patvinsuo National Park. The price of both day trips is 5€ and tickets are sold via kide.app. 

ISYY secures continuation of free virtual printing blance for students

At UEF, students receive a virtual printing balance of 9 € twice a year. Earlier this year, there were plans to remove the virtual printing balance entirely, which would have made all printing fully chargeable for students

However, after negotiations, ISYY successfully saved the virtual printing balance! Thanks to this, you can still save 9 € per semester!

The virtual balances are updated to 9 € on 16 September and 16 January when a student has registered as present for that semester. Unused virtual balance is not carried over to the following semester.

Association Days are coming in October!

ISYY’s Association Days brings together student associations, clubs, and other student organisations on campuses – it's a chance to explore new things and as a association or club, a good place to introduce your actions to new people!

Where & when?

• Joensuu: 21–22 October, in Carelia lobby
• Kuopio: 22 October, in Snellmania lobby

On both campuses from 10 am to 2 pm. Organisations and clubs can now register to event, read more from ISYY's website.

Coffee & Friends

This autumn’s Coffee & Friends starts today on both campuses! The café meets on Tuesdays at 3-5pm at Lukema in Kuopio and at 4-6pm at Agora café in Joensuu.

Upcoming themes in Coffee & Friends:

• 16.9. Get together & board games
• 23.9. Quizzes
• 30.9. Dream Board Workshop
• 7.10. Colouring & board games

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.

ISYY is looking for new representatives for the YUFE Student Forum!

Join the YUFE Student Forum and bring your perspective in the implementation of the YUFE vision. We are seeking specifically one bachelor’s degree student and one PhD researcher. Student-centredness, equality, openness, diversity and inclusivity are at the core of the YUFE identity. Students with all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

As a YUFE Student Representative for UEF you'll:
● co-operate with your fellow student-colleagues and UEF’s YUFE Team
● form a part of the international YUFE Student Forum, ensuring that UEF students’ input is also included
● actively participate in one or more of the YUFE working groups

This is a voluntary non-paid opportunity. However, all expenses due to YUFE (e.g., travel costs) will be covered by your university.

Read more and send your application on 23 September at the latest!

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:

• MtG (Magic: the Gathering) Guild Mon 3 pm - 8 pm
• LUOMIO! (Literary Arts Club) Tue 6 pm - 8 pm
• JOOJAKU (Japanese Culture Club) Wed 4 pm - 8 pm
• Joensuu Board Gamers meeting Thu 3 pm - 8 pm
• Chess Club Fri 4 pm - 8 pm

Run as a candidate in ISYY’s Representative Council Elections – apply by 1 Oct!

Take a chance and become a candidate in ISYY’s Representative Council Elections! By taking part in the Representative Council Elections, you can influence the most important matters of your student life and participate in decision-making.

The elected Representative Council, which consists of 39 members, forms the highest decision-making body of the Student Union. All ISYY members can vote in the Elections so students elect the Council amongst the students who have become candidates. The present Representative Council’s term is coming to an end at the end of 2025 so it is time to elect a new representative Council!

The elections for the ISYY Representative Council will be held as electronic elections this autumn. Advance voting takes place on 27.–31.10.2025 and the actual voting day is 6.11.2025.

You have until 1.10. 3pm to nominate yourself as a candidate!

Candidate Lists’ Campaigning Days

All candidate lists of the Representative Council Elections have a chance to present themselves and do campaigning on both campuses during certain dates. The lists of candidates are asked to sign up for the campaigning days via Google Forms beforehand.

Campaigning days for lists in Joensuu:

• Tue 23.9, from 10 am to 2 pm, Carelia lobby
• Thu 25.9, from 10 am to 2 pm, Natura lobby
• Mon 29.9, from 10 am to 2 pm, Carelia lobby

Check out all info from ISYY’s website and sign up!

Election info session 23.9.

ISYY will organise a Representative Council info session virtually 23.9.2025 starting at 4:15 pm with a Finnish session. The English section starts at 5:15 pm and will last about an hour; half an hour is reserved for the info-session and half an hour for possible questions from the audience. In attendance, there will be members from ISYY’s central elections committee and specialists to give answers to questions you might have on your mind and to tell you about the Representative Council and its work.

Link to the info session will be updated to Election Calendar.

Breakfast and workout @Portti54

SYKETTÄ Joensuu and ISYY are organising breakfasts for UEF and Karelia students at the SYKETTÄ’s Portti54 gym twice in autumn 2025.

The breakfasts are on Tuesdays, 30 September and 25 November from 8.30am to 9.45am. The breakfasts start with a beginner-friendly workout and after that we will enjoy a breakfast together. After breakfast, you can stay at the gym to work out. If you need help with the equipment, you can ask the SYKETTÄ sports councellor for advice.

Registration for the first breakfast opens on Kide.app on Wednesday 17 September at 10.00am. You do not need a SYKETTÄ sticker to participate.

Sports Afternoon

Sports afternoon of autumn 2025 will be held on Wednesday 1.10.2025. The UEF and Karelia UAS hold a sports afternoon together and by the decision of the university rectors, the sports afternoon is lecture-free from 12:15pm.

On sports afternoon, different exercise options are available for students and staff members. SYKETTÄ membership is not required to participate in sports afternoon.

All classes and turns in SYKETTÄ sports calendar on 1.10. are also included in sports afternoon programme! To participate in classes and turns in sports calendar, you must be registered as a user and enroll on classes and turns.

Kick off Autumn with football 

The all star student teams of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and Karelia University of Applied Sciences (Karelia UAS) face each other for the third time in El Clásico at the heart of Joensuu at Central sports field (Mehtimäenaukio 2, Joensuu) in Mehtimäki Sports Park. Which team is going to be the football champion of North Karelia? 

Be present on Wednesday 17.9. at 5pm to cheer for your team to victory. The student event is an alcohol-free event!

El Clásico is organized by: the Sports club of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY), the Student Union POKA of Karelia University of Applied Sciences and SYKETTÄ Joensuu University Sports. 

Free trial period has ended

All users must have a valid SYKETTÄ membership from Monday 15.9.2025 onwards when using the services. You can buy the membership on our online shop (Finnish bank account is required) or at the ISYY office. Download the SYKETTÄ mobile application to use the mobile sticker.

We primarily recommend using a mobile sticker. The physical sticker can be purchased from ISYY office where you can pick up a SYKETTÄ sticker attached to a student card, staff card, or a separate blanco card. You can use the mobile sticker instead of or alongside a physical sticker.

Mobile application and blanco card users must be prepared to prove their identity with a student card or an identity card. Always keep your SYKETTÄ sticker with you when using the services and be prepared to present your sticker when requested!

• SYKETTÄ ABC

SYKETTÄ Appro

SYKETTÄ Appro has ended, you can now return the appro pass and collect your overall badge from ISYY office. If you are missing one last participation this can be acquired by participating El Clasico as a spectator on Wednesday 17.9. You can also return your appro pass at the event.

You can collect your overall patch untill the end of September.

How should the Kamu website be improved to better serve you as a student?

UEF, in collaboration with Exove, is running a planning and conceptualization project for the development of Kamu this autumn. To improve Kamu, we need your feedback and ideas! Please, respond to the survey, which is open from September 8 to 21, 2025.

The survey is anonymous and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Three € 50 gift cards for the UEF online store will be raffled off among those who respond to the survey. Taking part in the raffle is optional.

NORDIC BUSINESS FORUM livestream comes to Joensuu!

This is a unique and free opportunity to hear inspiring talks while networking with local professionals and organizations.

September 24–25, 2025 – you can join either day or both

•  September 24: Joensuu Science Park
•  September 25: University of Eastern Finland

Organizers: Business Joensuu Oy / ICT Hub Joensuu, University of Eastern Finland, Karelia University of Applied Sciences, and Riveria. The regional HR network is also involved in the event.

Celebrating Languages in the Workplace – Event on September 26, 2025 Support and Tools for Language Learning

We invite you to get inspired and explore how language awareness can strengthen communication, inclusion, and learning in the workplace.

This event is free of charge and held in a hybrid format, both on-site and online. The event offers practical tips for supporting language learning at work and showcases best practices for operating in multilingual environments. The event also introduces opportunities offered by the Open University to develop your language skills.

This event is inspired by the European Day of Languages, which celebrates linguistic diversity and encourages the learning of new languages.

Join us in celebrating language, learning, and community!

Date & Time: September 26, 9:00–11:00
Location: Kuopio and Joensuu, at the premises of the University of Eastern Finland’s Centre for Continuous Learning, and online.

Registration is open until September 19. Register now: Kielten juhlaa työyhteisöissä – tukea ja työkaluja kielen oppimiseen | Itä-Suomen yliopisto

The Language Centre offers a new minor subject in Finnish as a Second Language!

Want to learn more about the Finnish language and culture? The main focus is on language use situations related to the student's everyday life and in contemporary Finnish society. The minor subject module is suitable for both beginners and those who have already studied some Finnish.

The minor subject consists of language studies and thematic studies. The minor is 25 credits. The minor subject consists of courses offered by the Language Centre and other departments. See the structure and studies in Peppi: Study Guide.

There is no need to apply for the right to study in the minor subject and there is no limit to the number of participants, but the student must register for the minor subject module.

We in Joensuu want all our new residents who have moved from abroad to feel welcome and belonging to the community.

The city is currently preparing a new integration program for the years 2026–2029. You can now influence the content of the integration program by participating in an open workshop!

The workshop will be held on Thursday, September 18th, from 9 AM to 12 PM at Tiedepuisto. Welcome to join us in the workshop!

Waltti buses free of charge on Monday 22 September 2025

Bussilla pääsee campaign will now be held for the thirteenth time in Joensuu as part of the European Mobility Week. The Mobility week always ends on September 22 with Car Day off.

Even this year, on Monday 22 September, all Waltti shifts are free of charge in Joensuu, Kontiolahti and Liperi area, as well as the connection intervals Lieksa-Joensuu, Ilomantsi-Joensuu, Kite-centre-Tohmajärvi-joensuu, Outokumpu-Joensuu and Polvijärvi-Joensuu. So there is no need to buy single tickets from buses and mobile apps.

New student, Welcome to Joensuu!

In honor of the autumn and the start of studies, Joensuu Region Public Transport, or JOJO, will give away a free 30-day season ticket for 50 students starting their studies.

New students studying full-time at Karelia University of Applied Sciences, or the University of Eastern Finland can participate in the competition. The value of the prize depends on the number of zones to travel.

The competition period is September 3 — September 30, 2025.

Global Friday

Joensuun Setlementti organises Global Friday, a multicultural and international meeting place activity. At Global Friday you can get to know new people and cultures, express your own culture in the way you want or just enjoy being together.

Global Friday is a place open to everyone and free of charge, which takes place every Friday from 5 to 8pm in the Tupa space of Joensuun Setlementti.

Autumn dates for Global Friday are as follows:

• 19.9. (Gaming Friday)
• 24.10. (Halloween)
• 7.11. (Culture Day)
• 5.12. (Autumn's last)

Floorball League Registration for Season 2025-2026

Floorball is one of the most popular team sports in Finland. The student floorball league on the Joensuu campus, better known as Säbäliiga, is the biggest student leagues organized by volunteers. The Floorball League moves around 250 students on the Joensuu campus.

Teams will enroll for the series until 3.10.2025, games will start in October. Each player needs either SYKETTÄ ball games or group exercise sticker. Team fee for season 2025–2026 is €75. 

Welcome to Säbäliiga!

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.