Happy Tuesday!

As a Student Union member, you can borrow sports equipment, such as ice skates, skis or badminton rackets from the ISYY office. Check out the sports equipment selection on our website. You can find our office opening hours and address below. New Student Union members can also pick up a welcome bag by JEIS (Joensuu's Exchange and International Students) from the office for free until our stock lasts. The bag includes coupons, a reflector, the ISYY calendar and a pre-paid Elisa SIM card. 

Do you enjoy learning languages?

Attend ISYY's Language Café info online on Google Meets tomorrow from 9 am to 10 am and learn how you can either teach a language of your choice to your peers or learn a language from your fellow students.

SYKETTÄ Sports Services

You can try out the SYKETTÄ classes for free still during this week! Just create an account and sign up to the lessons via the SYKETTÄ website. 

Kind regards,
Joona Rantala | Coordinator of International Affairs, Joensuu Campus

ISYY office in Joensuu Opening hours

    Mon, Tue: 10–12, 13–15
    Wed: 12–16
    Thu: 10–12, 13–15
    Fri: closed

Suvantokatu 6, FI-80100 JOENSUU
toimisto.joensuu(at)isyy.fi
Tel. +358 (0) 44 576 8449

Office services:

• Customer service in English
• Purchasing SYKETTÄ University Sports Services membership
• Term stickers for plastic student cards
• Book exchange shelf
• Free ISYY student calendars
• Sports equipment and board game loans
• ISYY and UEF merchandise for sale
• Second-hand kitchenware for sale

Upcoming exceptions in ISYY office opening hours

There will be some exceptions in ISYY office opening hours.

• Wednesday 21 January Kuopio office is closed
• Tue 17 February, offices will be closed at 12 (Sports Afternoon)
• Mon–Sun 2. – 8. March offices will be closed (Winter Holiday)

If the office is closed, the return date for sports equipment and board games will automatically move to the next office opening day. Also note that if you want to borrow sports equipment for the Sports Afternoon from the ISYY office, please pick them up on Tuesday, February 17 at 10–12 at the latest.

ISYY is recruiting

The Student Union is recruiting a Specialist for Interest Advocacy, work place is at ISYY Joensuu office. Application period ends on 25 January 2026 at 11.59 pm.

Call for the vacancy is published on the ISYY website only in Finnish, because this vacancy requires excellent Finnish skills.

Coffee & Friends continues next week!

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. 

Coffee & Friends meets on Tuesdays from 27 January forward at 4-6pm at Agora Café. 

This spring's programme will be updated on ISYY s webpage in January

ISYY’s Language Café activities start this week!

Do you want to learn a new language, brush up on your old skills and meet new people or for example teach your native language to other students? Language Cafés are the perfect opportunity for you! You can also gain ECTs from the activity, whether you are participating as a learner or as a teacher.

The idea of the language cafés is to provide an informal platform for students to both learn and teach languages in a relaxed manner. If you complete a couple of assignments during the Language Café -activities, you can earn 1 ECTS as a participant and 2 ECTS as a teacher of a café.

Join the Language Café info session tomorrow on Wednesday 21 January from 9 am to 10 am on Google Meet to find out more! 

ISYY is recruiting student representatives for positions of trust at UEF

Who would be better to represent students than another student? Would you like to be that person and take part in university decision-making?

ISYY has published call for applicants for following positions:

• Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology (3 deputy representatives)
• Philosophical Faculty (1 deputy representative)
• University Collegium (2 deputy representatives)
• Education Leadership Group (1 representative and 1 deputy representative)
• Language Centre s Development Group (2 representatives and 2 deputy representatives)

You can later apply for ETCS's from these positions. And of course, you ll gain experience in decision-making! In the Faculty Council, University Collegium and Education Leadership Group you will also receive monetary compensation when attending the meetings.

Interested? Read more from ISYY website, get to know the application call and apply by Monday 2 February 12 (noon).

Apply to ISYY’s Annual Celebration team by 1 February!

Do you love Annual Celebrations? Do you want to be involved in implementing ISYY's traditions or even developing something completely new? If organising events is your thing and you want to be involved in making ISYY's 2026 Annual Celebration, this team is for you! 

ISYY's Annual Celebration will be held on 21 and 22 March 2026 in Joensuu, and we are searching for around four motivated members to our event team! The Annual Celebration team assists with preparations for the event and its execution during the anniversary weekend. 

Read more and apply to our team by 1 February 2026 on ISYY’s website! 

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.

• Magic The Gathering Guild Mon 3 pm - 8 pm
• JEIS Joensuu's Exchange and International Students Mon 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm (at the University of Eastern Finland, Aurora Building, AU207)
• Luomio! Literary Arts Club Tue 6 pm - 8 pm
• JOOJAKU Japanese Culture Club Wed 4 pm - 8 pm
• Joensuu Board Gamers Thu 3 pm - 8 pm
• ISYY Chess Club Fri 4 pm - 8 pm

Sport buddy for the spring!

Would you like to start attending a group exercise class, but feel intimidated to go there alone? Would you like to have a friend to chat with while jogging? Would you like to practice a sport but can’t do it alone? With the Sports Buddy service, we strive to bring together students interested in the same sports, and to lower the threshold of participating in instructed exercise classes.

SYKETTÄ Sports Services in Joensuu offers the Sports Buddy service to all university students, who would like to exercise with a friend. We want to connect students interested in the same sports with the Sports Buddy service. No SYKETTÄ membership is required to use the Sports Buddy service.

Fill the Sports Buddy questionnaire and we will find a suitable Sports Buddy for you. You can find the application from here.

Access codes to SYKETTÄ gyms

Four gyms are available in SYKETTÄ Sports Services: Portti54, the Aurora gym on the UEF campus, the Tikkarinne gym at the Karelia UAS Tikkarinne campus and the Joensuu Areena gym. 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. You can find gym opening hours and important information about the facilities on the SYKETTÄ website in the Facilities section.

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. You cannot use the gym facilities without a valid SYKETTÄ sticker!

You can find the form here!

Are you looking for a workout buddy?

The Workout Buddy service is offered by SYKETTÄ university sports for higher education students who want to be physically active and are looking for someone to exercise with. The goal of the service is to connect students who share similar interests in different types of sports and activities.

In the Workout Buddy application, you can tell us what kinds of sports interest you and what kind of exercise companion you’re looking for. We’ll contact you once we’ve found a suitable match. You don’t need to have an active SYKETTÄ membership to take part in the Workout Buddy service.

By filling out the workout buddy application, we’ll help you find the right exercise partner for you!

Student Tutors Needed for Next Autumn Semester! 

If you study in a Bachelor s or a Master s degree programme at UEF and you are interested in helping the new students in Autumn Semester 2026, you can apply as a student tutor.

The student tutor helps the new students to have a smooth start for their studies. Tutoring offers many opportunities to learn, for example to develop your communication and coordinating skills. The tutors will be trained for the job, and they will receive credits and a certificate on tutoring.

The applications are open until  1 Feb 2026.

Study Buddies group on Joensuu campus

In the Study Buddies group, you get to study together with others and try out the Pomodoro technique. In the group, everyone will work independently on what is currently timely in their studies, be it writing, reading or other types of assignments.

The Study Buddies group is open for all UEF students on the Joensuu campus. You do not need to register beforehand, you can just show up.

Looking for an internship, a thesis topic, or work experience in Finland? Talent Pool can help you get started.

Talent Pool is a skills database for international students at UEF. By registering, you can showcase your skills, education, and work experience to potential employers — all in one place.

What s in it for you? 

• Be the first to hear about internships, employer events and Talent Hub activities.
• Make your skills visible to Finnish employers.
• Get support in connecting with employers.
• Build networks and gain practical experience in Finland.

How does Talent Pool work? 

• Fill in a short survey about your skills, studies and career interests.
• Employers contact Talent Hub when they are looking for students.
• With your permission, we introduce suitable candidates to employers.
• You may be invited to meet employers and discuss next steps.

Talent Pool is an easy way to explore internships, thesis topics and job opportunities while studying in Finland.

Join Talent Pool and take a step towards your future career:
https://go.uef.fi/talentpool

More information: Marko Pietilä marko.pietila@uef.fi | +358 40 355 3039

Sessions Talent - Novapolis, Kuopio

Are you looking for a job, summer work, or an internship? Interested in entrepreneurship, or searching for a suitable thesis topic? Sessions Talents gives you the opportunity to connect directly with experts from companies and education providers.

Check the day's program and participating companies online, no registration needed!

Sessions Talents is open and free for all and there is no need for a registration. However, if you need a free bus drive from Joensuu to Kuopio and back, then please reserve your seat here! 

Participating employers:

Tiimihenki,  Saimaa Audit,  Envineer, Novapolis, SOL Palvelut, RPS Brewing, Snellman EDU, Peeässä, Osuma Personnel Services,  Hydroline, Beckhoff Automation, Finnish Defence Forces, SOL Personnel Services, GE HealthCare Finland, Advania Finland, Nordcloud, HaVe Living Solutions, Mantox Solutions and more

Respond to a survey on the accessibility of the University of Eastern Finland Library!

The purpose of the survey is to map the physical and digital accessibility of the library's services, facilities, collections and communications. 

Your answers will help us make the library more accessible. The survey is open from 19 January until 8 February 2026. 

P. S. Please, visit the library service desk in case you need assistance in filling in the form.

UEF International Week has started

(20-23 Jan)

International Mobility Services are organizing International Week on both campuses during Tue–Fri 20–23 January 2026. There will be info sessions on student exchange, info desks on both campuses, and a Jodel AMA on Friday.

Please see Kamu for more information!

Enrolment to the Pathways to Career Competence and Networks, 2 ECTS, course is now open!

Talent Hub Eastern Finland project is recruiting students to join Future Talents team. The main goal of the team is to foster cooperation between international study programmes, local companies, and organizations to create collaboration such as internships, project work, case studies and thesis topics. In a way, the Future Talents team works as a representative of the university by marketing and selling the skills and expertise of study programs and students.

Being part of the team begins by completing 2 credits orientating course Pathways to Career Competence and Networks. Successful completing will open the possibility to participate in the Future Talents Team project (3 ECTS) later on the spring.

The course is mainly targeted for students of international degree programmes (bachelor´s and master´s) also doctoral researchers can apply (max intake 40). Timing of the course is 11.02.2026 - 24.03.2026.

Student, find power and purpose for your career and register to career planning and job seeking courses for the spring 2026!

Are you wondering about your future? Where will I find work? How will I be convincing in the job interview? What can I do with my degree? What are my strengths? Am I in the right field? What should I study as a minor subject? What rights and obligations do I have as an employee?

Students pondering about their future directions or seeking traineeships and employment are troubled by many questions. Nevertheless, don’t worry! Practical guidance, knowledge and support is there for you on the career planning and job seeking courses offered by UEF Career Services.

Remember to pay healthcare fee for higher education students in OmaKela

You can now pay the student healthcare fee for the spring and autumn semesters of 2026. The fee is 35.35 € per semester, and 70.70 € for the whole year 2026.

The due date for the fee for the spring term is 15 March, if you register as attending by 31 January. If you register as attending for the spring term on or after 1 February, the due date is 31 July.

If you do not pay the healthcare fee by the due date, Kela will send a reminder. If the healthcare fee is paid after the due date, Kela will charge a fixed late-payment charge 5,00 €.

First-year student, please complete the HealthStart questionnaire in the Self online service

If you started completing your first degree at an institution of higher education in the spring semester 2026, you can now complete the HealthStart questionnaire in the Self online service. After completing the HealthStart questionnaire, you’ll receive feedback on your state of health and may be referred to health promotion services provided by the FSHS.

The health examination for first-year students begins with the HealthStart questionnaire, the aim of which is to help you and healthcare professionals check your health status and refer you to the appropriate services as early as possible at the beginning of your studies.

The HealthStart questionnaire examines your physical, mental and social health, as well as the key aspects of your health behavior and factors affecting your health, health behavior and ability to study.

Check out our info page for new students on the FSHS website

How can I contact FSHS? When can I use FSHS services? What services does FSHS offer? You’ll find answers to these and many other questions in the information package for new students on the FSHS website. Check out the page and get to know FSHS!

International Music Nights Spring 2026 

Get your dancing shoes on and join JEIS (Joensuu's Exchange and International Students) for some awesome nights in Bepop Joensuu! 

Joensuu’s Exchange and International Students club is collaborating with Bepop to bring some international music to Joensuu! These music nights are going to happen on Thursdays: January 22nd, February 5th, February 19th, March 5th and March 19th! There will also be two international music nights in April that will be advertised later on in the spring semester. All of the events start at 11pm!

To make this event truly international, we want you to participate in making the playlist for the events! The song request form can be found here! We hope to see you all there!

Want to travel to Saariselkä or Lofoten this spring semester?

Want to travel to Saariselkä or Lofoten this spring semester with Timetravels and Joensuu's Exchange and International Students club?

Sales to these wonderful trips have now begun. You can sign up to these trips with the early bird price until 1.2. (Lapland) or 12.2. (Lofoten).

 Signing up for the trips is done through Timetravels.

Joy Choir auditions on Jan 26th

The representative choir of the University of Eastern Finland, Joy, organizes an audition on January 26th between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., in the classroom AT100! You do not need previous singing experience to participate.

We are primarily looking for basses and tenors in the spring, but sopranos and altos are also welcome!

If you are unable to audition on the 26th, or you have any questions, please contact us via: uefkuorojoy@gmail.com

More about us at https://joykuoro.fi/en/tule-mukaan/

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.