Happy Tuesday!

It's time for the last Weekly Feed of the autumn semester!

The festive season is upon us and there's only two weeks until Christmas. Everyone should know by now that Santa Claus (joulupukki) is from Finland and that he lives at Korvatunturi in Lapland. Santa visits Finnish homes on Christmas Eve and brings presents to those who have been nice. In addition, Finns celebrate Christmas by getting together with family and friends, eating Christmas treats, taking things slow, and enjoying the break from work or school. I suggest everyone to do the same regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas or not.

If you are leaving Joensuu, I hope you have enjoyed your time here, learned a lot and made great memories. I would also like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and New Year!

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

ISYY offices and newsletters will begin their Christmas Holidays this week

Today's newsletter is the last of the year and we will publish next time on Tuesday 13 January. The last day that ISYY offices will be open this year is Wednesday 10 December.

After the Christmas Holidays we will be back at your service on Wednesday 7 January with our usual opening hours.

The 16th Annual Celebration of the Student Union

The 16th Annual Celebration of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY) will be held 21 March 2026 in Joensuu. We warmly welcome all ISYY members and friends of ISYY to celebrate our Student Union!

Mark the date in your calendar! More information will be published at the beginning of the year on ISYY's website.

Apply for a band shift at Studentia Band Rehearsal Space by 14 December!

You can now apply for a shift at Studentia Band Rehearsal Space for the spring 2026 by filling an online application form. The application period ends on Sunday 14 December at 23:59. All who have applied for a shift will be contacted on week 51. Spring shifts are valid from 2 January until 31 May.

One shift is max. 2 hours. On workdays (Mon-Fri) Studentia is open and the shifts can be applied from 8:00 to 21:00. Weekend shifts are available from 8:00 to 20:00.

ISYY Representative Council Meeting's Decisions 7/2025 and 1/2026–2027

The last Representative Council meetings of the year were held on 27 November, and the minutes are now available on ISYY’s website.

In its final meeting, the 2024–2025 ISYY Council approved ISYY’s action plan and budget for 2026, adopted a new Communications Strategy, decided to establish a full-time sports advisor position for SYKETTÄ Joensuu, and conditionally confirmed the Representative Council election results.

The newly elected 2026–2027 ISYY Council held its first meeting immediately after. In addition to organising itself, it elected the Student Union’s Chairpersons, the Executive Board for 2026, and the chairs of the chairpersons’ councils.

A photo shows members of the new Council, perhaps including someone you voted for. Your vote mattered, and now it is being used by these representatives who were elected to represent all students!

Winter Classic is back and takes over PKS Arena on 18 February

The most anticipated sports event of the winter is returning, as Winter Classic 2026 takes over PKS Arena on Wednesday, February 18th at 6:30 PM! The evening will be filled with atmosphere as Joensuu’s student teams face off in a spectacular ice hockey match. Expect high energy, a major sports celebration and an event that brings all Joensuu students together.

Want to play in the Winter Classic? 

Registration for the Winter Classic teams is now open! Whether you’re an active competitor, a casual hobby player, or a seasoned veteran returning to the ice, you’re welcome to sign up.

Participants must have a valid study right at UEF or Karelia AMK. Team captains will make the final decisions regarding player selection. Registration closes on Sunday, January 11th, at 23.59.

Coffee & Friends continues on 27 January on both campuses

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 3-5pm at Lukema in Kuopio and at 4-6pm at Agora Café. 

Next spring’s programme will be updated on ISYY’s webpage in January.

SYKETTÄ Spring Season 2026

The SYKETTÄ spring season will start in stages from 2.1.2026 with ball game sessions. Group sports  and instructed classes will begin on 12.1.2026. At the beginning of the season, free trial weeks will be held from 12–25.1 January 2026.

Spring stickers will be on sale starting 17.12. 2025, but the validity of new stickers will begin on 1.1. 2026.
 
During the free trial period, you can participate in the classes available on the sports calendar without a valid membership. However, users must enroll on each class beforehand during the free trial period.
 
New users must register on the SYKETTÄ mobile application or website before they can use the services. After the free trial period is over, from 26.1.2026 all users must have a valid SYKETTÄ membership

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!

Registration for spring 2026 ends 15 January 2026

Registration for spring 2026 is open and ends on 15 January 2026. Please, check in Peppi under “Attendance data” if you have already registered for spring semester as present or absent.

All bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students must register as being present or absent at the university within the registration period.

If a student fails to register for spring 2026 within the registration period so by 15th of January 2026, the student needs to apply for reinstating their study right and pay the handling fee of 50 euros. So remember to register within the registration period in OILI registration service! You can also change your registration for spring from absent to present in OILI within the registration period.

Christmas season opening hours at the Joensuu and Kuopio Campus Libraries

Year 2025

• Mon 15. – Fri 19.12. 8–15 (Customer Service 10–15)
• Sat 20. – Sun 28.12. closed
• Mon 29.12. – Wed 31.12. 8–13 (Customer Service 10–13)

Year 2026

• Thu 1.1. closed
• Fri 2.1. 8–13 (Customer Service 10–13)
• Sat 3.1. closed
• Mon 5.1. 8–13 (Customer Service 10–13)
• Tue 6.1. closed

Check the opening times for Christmas season and New Year

The FSHS will serve students on weekdays during the Christmas holidays. FSHS’s digital and remote services will be available on all weekdays. Local services will also be well available. Possible exceptions in services have been listed on this page. The page will be updated if necessary.

If necessary, you will be directed from the assessment of the need for treatment to either a remote appointment or to a local appointment to another open service unit.

Rector's Christmas Coffee on Joensuu campus today!

Welcome to the traditional Christmas coffee event for the staff and students today Tuesday, 9 December, at 14:00 in the lobby of the Carelia building. Event includes welcoming words from Rector Tapio Määttä and christmas music by University of Eastern Finland Choir Joy.

Healthcare fee for higher education students set at EUR 70.70 for 2026

The amounts of the student healthcare fees for higher education students in 2026 have been confirmed by a government decree.

Next year, the student-specific healthcare fee charged from higher education students for using student healthcare services will be EUR 70.70 per academic year, or EUR 35.35 per term, which is slightly less than in 2025.

Graduating students, please mark the date of the graduation ceremony on your calendar!

The event celebrates degree students who have graduated or will graduate from our university during the autumn semester 2025 and spring semester 2026 (1 August 2025 – 31 July 2026).

Registration for the event will begin in the spring. More information about registration will be published in the UEF Opiskelijat // Students Viva Engage group and sent by email to graduated students.

Christmas opening 16.11.2025

Joensuun Virta invites you to experience the magical spirit of Christmas at the Market Square, as Joensuu's official Christmas Opening takes over the square on Sunday, November 16!

The Christmas parade will set off from the yard of the Onni Art Museum at 2:45 PM, and the stage program at the square will begin at 3:00 PM.

The program will feature a variety of entertainment for the whole family:

• The funny characters of Theatre Traktori will delight audiences of all ages with their performances
• Voices of Metal choir will perform heavy metal and rock music
• Students from Eastern Finland School will showcase music and dance

Christmas Market 18.-23.12.2025

Joensuu Christmas Market will take place from Thursday to Tuesday, December 18–23, 2025. The Christmas Market with live program will be held from Friday to Sunday, December 19–21.

Program:

• Meet Santa Claus and his elf
• The chain carousel offers free rides for children
• Additional program will be available — the full schedule will be updated later

Welcome to shop and enjoy the festive atmosphere!

The City’s Most Beautiful Christmas Window voting begins on Sunday, November 16

The voting for the Most Beautiful Christmas Window competition begins during the Opening of the Christmas Season on Sunday, November 16.

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.