Happy Tuesday!

Wellbeing Week of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and Student Union (ISYY) is celebrated this week on both campuses Joensuu and Kuopio! The purpose of the Wellbeing Week is to offer UEF's students and staff a programme that promotes wellbeing throughout the week. In addition, information about the importance of promoting wellbeing is shared during the week. If you're new to Finland, attend at least the polar night online lecture called "Kaamos survival" held by study psychologist Katri Ruth on Thursday 2 October at 3.15 pm and learn how to survive the dark Finnish winter.

Sports afternoon this Wednesday is also part of the Wellbeing Week and your Wednesday should be lecture-free starting from 12 pm. You might still find something to do for tomorrow from the SYKETTÄ calendar! Participation in the Sports Afternoon does not require SYKETTÄ membership.

Kind regards,

Joona Rantala | Coordinator of International Affairs, Joensuu Campus

P.S. Next week's newsletter covers weeks 41 and 42. The Weekly Feed isn't published on week 42 because of autumn holiday week.

Exceptions in ISYY office opening hours

Here are the upcoming exceptions to ISYY offices opening hours in October 2025: 

• Sports Afternoon (Wed 1.10.2025): Open from 12 pm - 3 pm
• Autumn Holiday week 42 (13.-17.10.2025): CLOSED

ISYY nominates Emilia Enroth as a candidate for the Board of SYL for 2026

ISYY's Representative Council made the decision at their meeting on 25 September 2025. Emila Enroth has been the Chair of the Executive Board of the Student Union in autumn 2025, and formerly worked on sectors of academic affairs, environment and development cooperation as a member of the board. Emilia is particularly focused on themes such as high-quality education, improving students’ housing conditions, and ensuring accessible education.

SYL represents Finnish university students at the national level and promotes their interests.

Wanted: Student Representatives to UEF Administrative Bodies for the term 2026-2027

Do you want to participate in UEF decision-making as a student representative, or as we say “halloped”, and represent all students of UEF? This could be your chance! As a student representative you'll gain great experience of administration work and decision-making, get monetary compensation when attending the meetings, and you can later apply for ETCS's from these positions.

We are serching representatives for the following bodies:

• UEF Board
• UEF Collegiate Body
• UEF Faculty Councils

In UEF administrative bodies Student Representatives promote students’ point of view in the decision making and also bring matters that are important for students into public debate. They also have a right to make proposals and motions in the bodies. If your first language is not Finnish, UEF will organise interpretation services for you.

Interested? Read more from ISYY website, get to know the application calls and apply by Mon 13 October at 12 pm (noon).

ISYY Association Days are coming in few weeks!

In Association days ISYY clubs, student associations and campus associations gather in campuses to present their activities. ISYY clubs and associations has an opportunity to recruit new active members and promote their events. Students participating in the event might find new hobbies.

In Joensuu campus Association Days are in Carelia lobby on Tuesday and Wednesday 21.–22.10. at 10–14. ISYY Association Days are open for everybody and there’s no entrance fee.

ISYY's breakfast

ISYY’s breakfasts are relaxed and communal events open to all UEF students. Enjoy a nutritious start to your day and meet fellow students! The next breakfast will be held in campus restaurant Aura on 21.10. Registration for the breakfast starts on 7 October at 10.00 am. 

ISYY Club Meetings

All currently listed club meetings (except JEIS meetings) are held weekly in ISYY's club room at ISYY's office located near the city centre (Suvantokatu 6, 80100 Joensuu) except the JEIS meeting. 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
• Joensuu's Exchange and International Students Mon 5 pm - 6:30 pm
  • On Campus, Aurora-building, room AU102
  • No meeting on Monday 7 October!
• 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

What ISYY Council, what Representative Council Elections?

The Representative Council is the highest decision-making body of the Student Union, consisting of 39 members of ISYY. The members of the Representative Council are elected in elections held every two years. Every member of ISYY has the right to vote in these elections, meaning that students choose the members of the Representative Council from among the students who stand as candidates. All ISYY members are eligible to run as candidates. The current Council's term will end at the end of 2025, so it’s time to elect a new council!

The Representative Council elections will be held electronically this autumn. Advance voting will take place from 27 to 31 October 2025, and the official election day is 6 November 2025.

Someone always decides, why wouldn't it be you? This is you chance to make an impact!

There's still time to run as a candidate, don't miss your chance to make a difference! The nomination period for the Representative Council elections ends on tomorrow Wednesday 1 October at 15:00!

How much is the ISYY's membership fee? Where is it spent? What will ISYY do in the future? These are all questions and decisions you can impact in the council! This is your chance to influence the most important matters of your student life. Play your hand of cards and run as a candidate, maybe your cards will win.

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.

Join the SYKETTÄ Sports Marathon Oct 3–4, 2025!

To celebrate the anniversary year, SYKETTÄ is organizing a 24-hour Sports marathon on October 3–4, 2025, offering a wide range of group exercise classes, small tournaments, and ball game sessions. You can view the full schedule in the sports calendar, and registration for group classes is already open. The selection includes both easy to join activities and more intense workouts.

No SYKETTÄ sticker is required for the 24h sports marathon, so all students and staff members are warmly welcome to join. You can even bring along a one friend, sibling, or neighbor. But we kindly ask SYKETTÄ members to register in advance through the sports calendar. so that we can better anticipate the number of participants. This is a great opportunity to try out different classes, such as the highly popular Singing Bowls and the dance-based Lavis, and many more.

During the night, there will be a badminton tournament and late-night floorball with two different competition levels to choose from.

Enroll to these through the links:

• Badminton
• Midnight floorball (team registration)

In addition to exercise, we will be serving snacks, cake and coffee, as well as distributing overall patches (limited availability). Come and join the classes – and don’t miss the chance to cheer for the exciting night tournaments!

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!

Save the date: International Week is coming!

International Week is coming on Tue-Fri 21–24 October. During the week, International Mobility Services will organize exchange info sessions and info desks on both campuses. Schedules will be updated closer to the event, so keep an eye out on Kamu’s event page and Viva Engage!

Exceptions to UEF library opening hours

Joensuu campus library services are open tomorrow in the following way due to Sports Afternoon:

• Library doors are open from 8 am to 12 pm
• Customer service is open from 10 am - 12 pm

If you want to use the 24/7 study spaces, they are usable with a library access badge from 12.15 pm onwards.

Join YUFE Friend activities

It's time to sign up for the YUFE Friend programme again! YUFE Friend allows a local person or family to become friends with a UEF student or employee who has moved to Finland - and vice versa.

We are looking for two types of people interested in mutual cultural exchange:

1. local people or families who are interested in sharing everyday life in Finland and getting to know new people

2. UEF students and staff members (and their families, if any) who have recently moved to Finland and would like to meet local people and learn more about life in Finland.

Read more in the brochures provided in this Viva Engage post and Register by 20 October!

For more information on YUFE Friend activities, contact:

Kirsi Karjalainen (050 462 1267, kirsi.karjalainen@uef.fi)

Another screening for the New Demon Slayer movie with English subtitles tomorrow!

Savon Kinot has gotten requests from international students to have screening(s) for the new Demon Slayer -movie with english language subtitles. There will be another screening with english subtitles tomorrow, starting at 7.10 pm! 

MIELI Crisis Helpline  extends its opening hours

The new opening hours are:

• Mondays: 4 pm to 8 pm
• Thursdays: 9 am to 1 pm
• Fridays: 9 am to 1 pm

MIELI Mental Health Finland provides crisis assistance and support in order to prevent mental health problems and suicides. MIELI Crisis Helpline allows you to discuss your thoughts, feelings and situation in life with a crisis worker or a trained volunteer, for example all kinds of traumas, divorces, issues in the family or drug abuses.  You can call the crisis helpline anonymously and confidentially.

Visit Finnish schools during your stay in Finland

Would you like to visit a Finnish school or daycare center while in Finland?

School visits can be carried out in any classes – in subjects such as languages, history, geography, sports, arts, cooking, biology, religion, and student counselling. You can also take part in a theme day organised by the local school, e.g., an international day.

Your school visit makes a difference to the pupils! You don't need to be a teacher, just a visitor bringing something new to the classroom. During the school visit, you will have a possibility to join lessons, present your country and broaden Finnish pupils' cultural awareness, and inspire them to study or volunteer abroad. You'll also gain insight into the Finnish education system.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed, and you'll receive a certificate of participation.

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.