Happy Tuesday!

The roads are starting to freeze slowly and become slippery. Here are some useful tips for staying upright on icy roads:

• Check to see if the soles of your shoes are suitable for walking on slippery surfaces. The soles should not be completely flat and hard, but rather have a rubbery feel with some texture.
• If you don’t have winter-ready shoes, you can purchase slip-on shoe spikes to attach on your shoes. The studs should not be worn indoors since they scratch the floors, so remember to take them off your shoes when you go to the supermarket, for example.
• Now that you have proper footwear, it’s time to learn to walk like a penguin! In order to avoid falling down on icy roads, lean forwards and keep your weight on the foot you’re putting forward. If this works for penguins with slippery feet, it works for humans as well!
• NB! Black ice is a thing in Finland - the roads can be super slippery even though they don’t look icy (you can still see the asphalt through the ice, hence the name).
• Read more tips from Liikenneturva.

Have a nice week!

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

Exceptions in opening hours of ISYY offices and Christmas break

ISYY office in Kuopio will have shortened opening hours from Thursday 20 November onwards.

Mon: 1pm - 3pm
Tue: 1pm - 3pm
Wed: 12 (noon) - 4pm
Thu: 1pm - 3pm
Fri: closed

This year the offices are open for the last time on Wednesday 10 December. The Joensuu office is open regularly without exceptions until that date. Survival Packages can be returned to offices until 17 December at specific times. All survival package holders will be sent an information message about possible returning hours.

Take a break – Wellbeing pop-up event 4.12.

Take a break – Wellbeing pop-up event in the lobby of Carelia on the Joensuu campus and in the lobby of Snellmania on the Kuopio campus on Tuesday 2 December 2025, at 11:00-13:00.

Feeling the end-of-semester rush? Drop by for a moment of calm! Our pop-up event brings you wellbeing workshops and creative activities hosted by student associations.

Brought to you by UEF Student and Learning Services, ISYY, FSHS – as well as Varpu-project in Joensuu. Drop by, relax, and take a moment for yourself!

ISYY: No grounds for bringing forward orientation

The University of Eastern Finland has planned to organise the orientation earlier in August. Earlier ISYY’s Executive Board has given an opinion to UEF about organising the orientation in August but even with this opinion UEF has decided to go through with their plan. The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland does not support the planned move to bring forward the orientation period, which aims to prepare students for the start of their studies, to August.

– The university has not provided any reasonable justification for bringing forward the orientation. Instead, this would be yet another source of stress for both new students and tutors, on top of finding accommodation, securing a livelihood, scheduling studies, and juggling with summer jobs, says Chair of the ISYY Executive Board Emilia Enroth.

ISYY Council meetings 7/2025 and 1/2026–2027 on Thu 27 November

ISYY Council will hold their meetings on Thursday 27 November at 4 pm in classrooms N100 (Joensuu) and SN200 (Kuopio). The current ISYY Council will first hold its meeting 7/2025 at 4 pm and right after it the newly elected Council 2026–2027 will hold its formative meeting.

At the meeting 7/2025 the ISYY Council will decide ISYY’s action plan and budget for 2026, decide whether to accept ISYY’s new communications strategy and whether to establish a new position of Physical Activity Counsellor for Joensuu SYKETTÄ sport services.

In the formative meeting 1/2026–2027 the new ISYY Council will name the following positions and bodies for the year 2026: Chairpersons for the ISYY Council, ISYY Executive Board, Chairpersons for the Committees of the Chairpersons for both campuses.

Welcome to follow the meetings in the classrooms or via stream on ISYY’s YouTube channel!

Hobby Buddy service: buddies for these hobbies wanted

ISYY's Hobby Buddy service connects students with one another based on shared interest and hobbies. The service is for all students of the University of Eastern Finland who want to make new friends through common hobbies and interests. Right now we have people looking for one ot more hobby buddies in Joensuu for e.g. following activities: geocaching, coding, music and band activities, video games, handicrafts, cooking and baking.

Fill out the application on our website and we’ll get in touch when the matching hobby buddy is found. Note! If you are looking for a friend to exercise with, please check out the Sport Buddy service of SYKETTÄ.

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
• 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

Schedules for the end of the year!

SYKETTÄ group classes and other instructed sessions will end on Friday, 5.12.2025, but the classes instructed by JoenVoLi will continue until 14.12.2025.
Länsikatu school will close starting 7.12. and Tulliportinkatu school starting 12.12.  Additional ball game sessions will be added to Mehtimäki Hall for the period of 15–31, 2025.

The gyms will be open as usual, except for the Tikkarinne gym, which will be open from 22.12.25-3.1.2026  (7 AM–9 PM). Outside this period, it will operate normally. You can find the exact gym opening hours on our website.
More information about schedules and spring updates can be found on SYKETTÄ’s Instagram!

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!

Opening hours of Joensuu campus restaurants for Christmas and New Year 2025

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 autumn semester 2025, we ask you to 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.

Registration for language studies!

Registration for language and communication courses for spring semester opens December 1st. You can find the courses included in your degree in your PSP or in the study guide, register in Peppi through you PSP. Check out also the new Minor subject in Finnish: Minor Subject in Finnish as a Second Language.

Registration for the 3rd period ends on 4.1.2026 and later in the spring the registration for courses starting in the 4th period ends on 1.3. or later, depending on when the course starts. Read the further information of each course unit carefully!

Welcome to our language courses!

UEF Occupational Health and Safety Committee encourages moderate use of perfumes and fragrances

The university's occupational health and safety organisation has been contacted by people who have expressed a need for a university-level recommendation on the use of perfumes and fragrances at the workplace. One of the central tasks of the occupational health and safety organisation is to develop and ensure healthy and comfortable working environments.

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee reminds that the use of strong perfumes and fragrances may cause allergic symptoms. A small action can make the everyday life of people around you easier and also the entire university a more comfortable environment for us all.

UEF Startup Day returns again to the Joensuu campus!

Held for the sixth time, the UEF Startup Day will once again gather startup cases from the University of Eastern Finland, people interested in entrepreneurship, and Joensuu’s startup stakeholders in the Carelia building lobby tomorrow on Wednesday, November 26, from 10:00 to 14:00.

As in previous times, the event will showcase startup companies connected to UEF, entrepreneurship cases, and commercialization projects. In addition, participants will receive information about the entrepreneurship services and courses offered by the university and its partners. These services help students and researchers develop their own businesses, product or service ideas, as well as an entrepreneurial way of thinking.

The event is organized in cooperation with Joensuu Entrepreneurship Society (JoES).

Everyone interested in entrepreneurship is welcome – students, researchers, and staff members regardless of their field of study or educational background, as well as representatives of entrepreneurship-related stakeholder organizations. The main language of the event is English. 

Sustainability Studies Network

Sustainability studies network is a collaborative teaching network of 11 Finnish higher education institutions. The network is multidisciplinary. It offers courses related to environment and sustainability. The courses are open for all degree, doctoral and exchange students of the member higher education institutions. A student may choose courses based on their own interest from the course listing. There are courses available both in Finnish and in English. A student has an opportunity to broaden their knowledge on environmental and sustainability themes by studying courses through the network.

The call for applications is open from 17 November until 30 November 2025.

UEF libraries closed 27 November 2025

Campus Libraries and KUH Medical Library are closed on Thursday 27 November 2025 due to Staff Development Day. The 24/7 self-study facilities of Campus Libraries are open despite the exception.

Study psychologists’ telephone consultation hours in November and December 2025

For the remainder of the year, the study psychologists offer telephone consultation hours. You can send a call request via text message, and the study psychologist will contact you during the consultation hours. Please include your full name and student number in the message. You may also call the study psychologist yourself during the consultation hours. If the line is busy, please call only once – the study psychologist will return your call as soon as possible.

Coffee & Friends

On Tuesday 25 November the Coffee & Friends programme includes a Christmas party, after which the cafés will pause for the Christmas break. Coffee & Friends meets at 3-5pm at Lukema in Kuopio and at 4-6pm at Agora Café in Joensuu.

Coffee & Friends offers low-threshold hanging out after lectures and the opportunity to meet other UEF students over coffee aChappel’s Christmas 4.12.
Welcome to the Studentia Chapel for a free Christmas-themed event! Open to everyone – students, working people, families… Use the entrance on the lakeside, 2nd floor. Feel free to drop by whenever it suits you. Arranged by the staff from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kuopio.
nd a snack. 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.

The Coffee & Friends will continue in the spring semester, and the schedule will be published on ISYY’s website next year.

Oidipus Glögi Yoga

Deadlines are near and you are starting to miss friends with all the long dark days at the library? Is sitting all day and neck pain is becoming too much? No need to worry, we have a solution for you!

Glögi Yoga will take place on Wednesday 3.12. at 18:30-19:30 at Fittari (Teollisuuskatu 1). The class costs €10 and includes both the yoga session and glögi (mulled wine). All you need to bring is a good mood and a mug, but you’re also welcome to bring any other yoga beverages of your choice as well! Fittari recommends wearing comfortable, flexible clothing. Since the space might be a bit chilly, layering is also recommended.

Ticket sales are open now and close on Wednesday 3.12. at 16:30. The event is open for everyone, so come enjoy and get the christmas vibes going with glögi yoga!

WHAT? Oidipus’ Glögi Yoga! 
WHERE? At Fittari, Teollisuuskatu 1
WHEN? Wed 3.12. at 18:30–19:30
WHAT TO BRING? Comfortable, flexible clothes, your own mug, and a water bottle!
WHY? For body care and to elevate the cozy winter mood

Family School Independence Day celebrations: Multicultural Finland

At Sirkkala Movement Center (Sirkkalantie 12 B) 05.12.2025 at 6PM. 

Programme of the celebrations:

•  Welcome Speech
• "Letters to Irja and Lauri" - A spectacle about hope, peace and love during war
• Photo and poem exhibition: our multicultural Joensuu
• Dance and Music Performances
• Festive Food and Treats
• Traditional dances from different countries

Sign ups by phone 01.12.2025 (+358 504633049). The event is organized by Theatre RanKids and KIEKU Joensuu.

Light Seekers event

An immersive art and light event for the whole family at Kuhasalo and Kalmonkatiska (Kukkosensaari 5, Joensuu) on November 28 5:00-7:00 PM. The event is free entry and organized by the city of Joensuu, KIEKU Joensuu and Theatre RanKids.

• Light path from the parking lot to the Kota, Performances at the kota (Circus/Fire show, Light dances)
• Photo wall with fairytale characters
• Word and visual arts
• Role-playing character
• Light calligraphy
• UEF LUMA Centre

Take the Survey on Social Innovation

A Europe-wide survey explores what kinds of knowledge and skills are needed to develop better solutions to today’s societal challenges. The results will be used to design new learning materials. The survey is carried out by the European Social Innovation Campus (ESIC) project, co-funded by the European Union.

The survey is aimed at three target groups (approx. 20 minutes to complete) and is available in several languages.

New Mind Matters online course for students

How can you take care of yourself How about your fellow students? How could you develop a stronger sense of connection with other students?

The new Mind Matters -online course offers tools and insights to help you promote both your own mental health and that of your fellow students. The course is free of charge, lasts only a couple of hours, and is suitable for all students.

Your mind matters – join us to learn how even small actions can improve your own and others wellbeing and make studying more meaningful for you and others!

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.