Happy Tuesday!

Have you noticed that you feel tired all the time in autumn and in the beginning of winter? The lack of sunlight may cause moodiness, tiredness, as well as cravings of carbohydrates and sugar (so all of your sugar binges are not necessarily stress-related). Then how can you help yourself to cope with the darkness? Check out our wellness tips at the end of this newsletter.

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Joona Rantala | Coordinator of International Affairs

 ISYY's website and email service were temporary interrupted

ISYY had a service disruption on its website www.isyy.fi from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning. The disruption was caused by outdated DNS records between the domain name and the web server.

Because of the disruption ISYY’s emails ending in @isyy.fi were also temporarily unavailable. Emails sent between 1:00 pm on 9 November and 10:00 am on 10 November may not have been delivered.

If you sent an application to be a student representative in the UEF’s Equality and Non-Discrimination Committee, please resend your application via email to mikko.aaltonen@isyy.fi or contact Mikko by phone +358 44 576 8414. ISYY has also continued the application process period until 11 November 9.00 am just for sure.

The disruption affected only the technical functionality of the website and email service. It did not pose a cybersecurity risk, nor was the confidentiality of any information compromised.

ISYY Representative Council Meeting's Decisions 4/2026

The ISYY Representative Council had its fourth meeting of the year on 29 October, and the minutes of the meeting are now available in Finnish on the ISYY’s website’s Documents section.

The Representative Council decided ISYY’s membership fee for academic year 2027–2028 and approved changes to ISYY's Symbol Regulations and to medium-term economic plan. Membership fee for the academic year 2027-2028 remains unchanged, being €73 for degree students (€36 autumn term, €37 spring term) and €56 for postgraduate students (€27,50 autumn term, €28,50 spring term).

ISYY office opening hours for the remainder of 2026

In November and December there will be a couple of exceptions in ISYY office opening hours.

Upcoming exceptions:

• Thursday 19 November offices are closed

In 2026 the offices will be open for the last time on Thursday 10 December at 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–15:00. If you need to visit ISYY offices before the holidays, please do that during the first weeks of December.

The offices will serve you again on Thursday 7 January 2027.

ISYY is searching members to Central Elections Committee

The next Representative Council Elections of ISYY are held in autumn 2027, but the work for democracy starts already next spring. Purpose of the Central Election Committee is to prepare and supervise the elections, which includes

• participating in the Committee meetings
• preparing election documents
• preparing questions for the voting aid and election panels
• attending ISYY’s election events
• helping with planning and executing election communication
• counting the votes

ISYY staff helps and supports the Central Election Committee! The Committee consists of 6-8 members and at most 4 deputy members. Please note that members of the Committee cannot nominate themself as a candidate in the Representative Council elections.

If you’re not an ISYY Council member, but are interested in joining the Central Election Committee, please send an email to the Chairperson of the ISYY Council to epj@isyy.fi by Wednesday 25 November expressing your interest. The next Central Election Committee is elected at the last Representative Council meeting of this year on 26 November.

Student representatives wanted to the UEF's Equality and Non-Discrimination Committee!

ISYY is recruiting 3 student representatives and 3 deputy representatives for the Equality and Non-Discrimination Committee of UEF for the term 1.1.2027–31.12.2030.

As a student representative, you can help promote a more equal and equitable university while also gaining valuable experience working in committees.

The committee usually meets 6 times during the calendar year, and a meeting fee is paid for attending the meetings. In addition, after the end of their term, the student has the right to apply for ECTS for participating in administrative and working group activities.

Interested? Read more from the ISYY website and send your application on Tuesday 10 November 2026 at 12(noon) the latest.

What does the future look like? Now you can make a difference, apply to the Executive Board 2027!

Are you passionate about improving student advocacy? Would you like to gain valuable experience for working life and be part of everyday life of The Student Union? Now you have the chance, apply for the Student Union’s Executive Board 2027. The Executive Board is selected at the Student Union Representative Council’s meeting on 26.11.2026.

The Representative Council elects the Board’s Chairperson, Vice Chair and 4-8 members annually. The Board is the executive body of the Student Union and its period of operation is calendar year.

Remuneration is paid for serving on the Board. Lately the remuneration has been:

•  1000 €/month Chairperson
•  800 €/month Vice Chairperson
•  500 €/month Board Member

Send us a free-form application and possible resume as PDF-files via email to viestinta(at)isyy.fi and paasihteeri(at)isyy.fi no later than on 15.11.2026 at 11.59 pm. 

Hemmo's movie night for ISYY members 20.11.

Welcome to Hemmo’s movie night organised by ISYY in Educa room E200 (Tulliportinkatu 1) on Friday 20.11.2026! The movie night begins at 18.00 and we will watch together the thrilling murder mystery, Knives Out!

On top of the movie there will be a playful movie themed quiz where participants can win movie themed prizes! And what type of a movie night it would be without tasty movie snacks?

It is good to arrive early to Educa as the quiz takes place right at the beginning of the movie and after that we will start watching the movie.

There are limited spots available so make sure you book your spot early - event is free!

ISYY's free breakfast 1.12.

ISYY’s breakfasts are relaxed and communal events open to all UEF students. Enjoy a nutritious start to your day and meet fellow students! This autumn’s last breakfast will be held in campus restaurant Aura on 1.12.

Registration for the breakfast starts on 17 November at 10.00 am in Kide.app.

ISYY Clubs in Joensuu

ISYY Clubs are open for all of ISYY members. ISYY's club room is located at our office near the city centre (Suvantokatu 6, 80100 Joensuu).

ISYY Club meetings at the ISYY Club room:

Monday 4 pm - 8 pm: ISYY's Magic the Gathering Guild

Tuesday  6 pm - 8 pm: LUOMIO! Literary arts club

Wednesday 4 pm - 8 pm: JOOJAKU

Thursday 4 pm - 9 pm: Joensuu Board Gamers

Friday 4 pm - 8 pm: ISYY Chess Club Joensuu

Other ISYY Club meetings:

Monday 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Joensuu's Exchange and International Students (Aurora-building, AU111) 

Monday 6 pm - 8 pm: Academic & Historical Dance Society (Educa-building, hall E200)

Badminton tournament 14.11.2026

Welcome to the badminton tournament to play or to watch! The badminton tournament will be held on Saturday 14.11. at 8am-1pm at Länsikatu school. There are two places available in the men's division, and plenty of space in the women's division.

Gym instructions

Would you like to start gym training for the first time or after a long break? You can book a personal gym instruction session with physical activity counsellor Anni. The instruction does not require a valid SYKETTÄ membership or gym access.

International Women group

JoenVoLi organizes a group for international women on Saturdays at 11am-12noon. This group is open to all women, regardless of fitness level. Enrollment via SYKETTÄ sports calendar.

• 14.11. Asahi and mobility
• 15.12. Asahi and mobility

Folkdisco invites you to dance together to the rhythm of techno folk!

Folkdisco is an interactive dance experience where Karelian folk dance meets free movement and the atmosphere of a nightclub. This is something you do not want to miss!

The event is hosted by two great professionals, Eveliina and Mitja Pilke. The dancing will start in the lobby of the Carelia building on Wednesday 18 November at 13:00.

There is also a self-led craft workshop on the same day. In the ART WORKSHOP, created by artist Johanna Turunen, you can decorate wooden clothes pegs for various purposes. The workshop will be open from 10:00 to 15:00 at Carelia.

The concert and the workshop are part of the cultural collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland and the City of Joensuu.

How do you use AI in your studies? Or do you use it at all?

Do you use AI to explain concepts, edit texts or brainstorm ideas? Or do you prefer not to use it at all? Both experiences are equally valuable to us. Please respond by 7 December via the link below.

UEF is currently developing AI training, guidelines, and support services for students. We want to respond to students’ actual needs rather than rely on guesswork. In the survey, you can tell us, among other things:

• What do you use AI for in your studies, or if you don’t use it, why not?
• What concerns or questions do you have about using AI?
• What kind of support and training would you like, and which form of support would suit you best?

The survey takes 5-15 minutes, and all responses will be treated anonymously. The survey is intended for UEF degree students.

Thank you so much for helping make AI use clearer and more useful for everyone!

UEF Global Development Day 2026 at Kuopio Campus on 26 November – From Good Policy to Better Policy: Shaping Sustainable Futures Through Global Partnerships

The UEF Global Development Day 2026 will be held at the Canthia building, CA101 room, on 26 November at 9:30–12:30. The event will be streamed online on Teams from 10:00 EEST onwards.

The event brings together policymakers, researchers, students, and partners to discuss how evidence-informed approaches, innovation and international cooperation can address global challenges and create lasting impact for sustainable development.

The event will be held in English. Questions may be asked in Finnish and live captions will be available to support participation and accessibility. Read more about the programme here.

Notice: The shared transport from Joensuu Campus to Kuopio Campus will be arranged on 26 November. You can sign up shared transport by using this form.

RytmiHäiriköt Like Christmas – A Christmas Concert November 21, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the Carelia Hall Joensuu

There is a feeling at a RytmiHäiriköt Christmas concert that is just like Christmas itself. The air is filled with the excitement of anticipation, yet there is also a slight sense of uncertainty: what is about to happen, and have we really been good enough this year? The spirit of Christmas. Who could possibly not love it?

This concert brings the warmth and atmosphere of Christmas to life through jazz and swing music. These songs have been creating Christmas magic for decades. Who has not heard them performed by legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, or Tony Bennett? Some of the classics have also been given fresh interpretations by more contemporary artists like Michael Bublé, Diana Krall, and Linda Eder. Simply delightful.

Like Christmas, RytmiHäiriköt's Christmas concert, takes its audience on a journey through the worlds of jazz and swing, travelling back to the golden era of big bands while also touching on more modern popular music.

Tickets for students 5€.

Degree student: remember to pay the student healthcare fee

The fee must be paid by all students who are completing a degree at a Finnish institution of higher education and have registered as attending for the term in question.

• Use the OmaKela e-service to pay the healthcare fee.
• The healthcare fee is EUR 35.35 per term.
• The due date for the autumn term is 15 November, if you register as attending by 30 September.
• If you register as attending for the autumn term on or after 1 October, the due date is 31 December.

If you cannot use OmaKela for instance because you do not have Finnish banking credentials, please pay the fee to Kela as a bank transfer.

General Assembly of SYL 13.–14.11.

Highest decision-making body of the National Union of the University Students in Finland (SYL) is the General Assembly. It meets once a year in November. SYL members – student unions – elect each one’s own delegation to decide on the union’s economy in the coming year as well as to elect the board for next year.

How many members of the delegation and how many votes it has depends on how many members the student union has. ISYY has 16 votes in the GA. ISYY has nominated two candidates for the SYL Board: Emilia Enroth for Chair of SYL and Emilia Kivikoski for Board Member.

The General Assembly is held at Espoo Otaniemi on 13–14 November. The GA is typically streamed to SYL's YouTube-channel @sylvideot. ISYY is sending a delegation to the General Assembly of SYL.

Pay your overdue and reservation fees now to avoid an invoice from the library

We will invoice borrowing service fees in mid-November. You can pay your overdue and reservation fees yourself on UEF Primo or in person at the library, and we will not send you an invoice. Online payment is available for fees of 1 euro or more.

Due to the pricing update introduced in June, there may be some variation in reservation fees, as customer records may contain charges based on both the old and the new list of service fees.

If you have any questions about your fees, please contact library@uef.fi

Would you like to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in European universities? 

Apply now for the YUFE Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)! The programme combines online learning during winter 2027 with a one-week on-site mobility period in June 2027 at Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris. 

Upon successful completion, you will earn 3 ECTS credits and gain the knowledge and skills to act as an ED&I Ambassador at your university, helping to foster a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive academic community.

OpenYUFE - a programme exclusively for degree students at YUFE universities 

It gives you the right to study anything YUFE has to offer for four semesters, including credit-bearing academic and language courses from partner universities. Applying is quick and easy – but: you can only take advantage of this opportunity once! Further information is available from Kamu and on the YUFE website.

YUFE offers a wide range of language learning opportunities

Credit-bearing language courses are only available through the OpenYUFE programme, but the Online Language Cafés are open to all UEF students. They are particularly suitable for improving your spoken language skills in languages you already have some knowledge of.

Lapland War -movie with English Subtitles

Lapland War (in Finnish: Lapin sota) is a Finnish independent war drama film directed by Aku Louhimies, an adaptation of the 2012 novel by Antti Tuuri. 

The events of the film take place in Lapland in the autumn of 1944, during the conflict between Finland and Germany in the final stages of the Second World War.

Savage Beauty – World's greatest light installation / free outdoor screening

On Friday, November 13, at 6:00 PM, a free outdoor screening will be held in the Joensuu market square.

From the Mountains of Ireland to Joensuu Market Square!

This time, Savage Beauty won’t be confined to a screen. In November, the film will be screened outdoors at Joensuu Market Square, accompanied by a multisensory installation created by light artist Kari Kola and the film’s director Janne Tanskanen. Together, they will bring the world of the film to life in the heart of the city.

Savage Beauty, a documentary about Joensuu-based light artist Kari Kola, his monumental artwork and the story behind its creation, is the story of a visionary for whom nothing is impossible. The city of Galway commissions Kola to create a light installation as part of its European Capital of Culture 2020 programme, expecting him to make “something big”. Kola decides to illuminate an entire mountain. The work is named Savage Beauty, inspired by Oscar Wilde’s description of the Connemara landscape.

In the documentary, Kola and his team set out to create the world’s largest light installation amid Ireland’s rugged wilderness, battling extreme weather conditions, bureaucracy and, ultimately, the COVID-19 pandemic that brings the entire world to a standstill.

Now, a piece of that experience is coming to Joensuu Market Square. It’s time to wrap up warm, grab a cup of hot glögi and head to the square on a November evening. This time, the cold, darkness and light of Savage Beauty won’t just be something you watch on screen – you’ll feel it on your own skin, together with the rest of the audience. And what an experience it will be!

Kari Kola’s lighting, combined with fog, wind and rain effects and the outdoor screening itself, will create an experience in which the film extends beyond the screen and into the surrounding urban space. Come and experience the weather of Ireland in the middle of Joensuu Market Square.

The event is made possible through Rokumentti’s collaboration with the East Finland Film Commission, Visual Festival and Joensuu City Center Association Virta.

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.

The next Global Friday will be on 20 November.

Interactive art and light event at Kuhasalo on 22 November

The interactive trail carries the name "Shadows and lights - On the trails of solitude and sense of community". The trail leading from the parking lot to the hut offers to whole family verbal art works, visual arts, dance performances, characters, theme-related corners, shadow play, sound pieces and firework duo Amanda and Miina! You can take your own source of light with you.

In the Kalmonkatiska hut there is stall where you can purchase hot juice, buns and sausages by cash/mobilepay. During the evening there are performance near the hut at 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm.

If possible arrive on foot or by public transport, there will be traffic control.

The event is organized together with the culture and language education for the groups and theather group Rankids.

Christmas Opening

Joensuun Virta invites you to experience the magical Christmas atmosphere at the Market Square as Joensuu’s official Christmas Opening takes over the square on Sunday, November 22!

Program and schedule for the Christmas opening ceremony:

• 14:45–15:00 Christmas procession departs from Keskuskuja
• 15:00–16:00 Cheerful Christmas show on the market square stage
• 16:00–16:45 Santa Claus and his friends available to meet on the market square. The shops in Taitokortteli are also open from 12:00 to 17:00.

A warm welcome to join us—let’s kick off the Christmas season in Joensuu together!

Could you save someone's life?

For many seriously ill patients, such as people with leukemia, a stem cell transplant is the last chance of a cure. Right now in Finland, no optimal donor can be found for one in five patients. That's why the Stem Cell Registry needs more members, especially young adults and men.

Who can join?

• Aged 18–35
• In good general health

How to join from home

• Take a quick online test
• Fill in the membership form, and you'll get a free sample kit by post
• Swab the inside of your cheek and send the sample back in the prepaid envelope
• (You can also join at a Blood Service location.)

Good to know

• Joining doesn't mean you'll donate right away, or ever. Only about 2% of members end up donating.
• Donating is always voluntary and safe, and all expenses are covered.

JoMoni Finnish Language Cafe

You can come to the language café to practice speaking Finnish. There are no lessons in the language café, but the purpose is to chat in Finnish and spend time together. You don't need to know much Finnish - everyone who is learning and speaking Finnish is welcome! The activity is free.

All JoMoni activities are smoke-free and our activities follow the principles of a safe space.

Luotsi Joensuu Job Info For English Speakers

• Tips for independent job searching
• Tips for different industries
• Easy access job opportunities with no/low Finnish language requirements
• How to get access to hidden jobs
• How to improve your position as job seeker
• Upcoming events

No registration - just walk in!

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.