Happy Tuesday!

Have you already checked out our club selection?

ISYY Clubs are non-profit free-time communities that operate under the Student Union (ISYY). Clubs are established by UEF students. Our Clubs are there to bring more joy and meaning to student life, and every member of ISYY is welcome to attend any activities and events organised by them. You can get to know ISYY Clubs from the campus specific listings.

ISYY clubs in Joensuu 

There are also campus associations!

Campus Associations are organisations which offer different kind of recreational activities in both campuses.

Campus associations in Joensuu

Looking for a hobby buddy?

The Hobby Buddy Service is for all students of the University of Eastern Finland who want to make new friends through common hobbies and interests. It can be an old hobby or starting a new one. By filling out the hobby buddy application, we will find a matching friend for you.

Hobby buddy service

Have a nice week everyone!

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

Welcome to the 16th Annual Celebration of the Student Union on Sat 21 March in Joensuu

ISYY's Annual Celebration will be held on Saturday 21 March 2026 at 6 pm in Joensuu, Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel’s event space Sirkkala. 

The Annual Celebration details are now published on ISYY's website and registration for the event is now open in kide.app. We warmly welcome all ISYY members and friends of ISYY to celebrate our Student Union with us!

Suggest a stop for the 2026 Savo-Karjala Excursion

We are currently planning the 2026 Savo-Karjala Excursion, and we would love to hear your ideas!

Savo-Karjala Excursion is one of the most known and popular ISYY Vappu (May Day) events and it’s held every year 29th April. The Bus Excursion will go around Savo-Karjala area (the area between and around Kuopio and Joensuu) on a predetermined route and its pubs, bars and restaurants. The route remains as a secret until the buses start their journey.

We are looking for suggestions for a stop along the excursion route – especially local restaurants or unique places that we might not otherwise discover when planning the itinerary (e.g. on last year's excursion the participants had an opportunity to visit the Moomin Ice Cave).

If you know a place that could add something special to the excursion experience, don’t hesitate to share your suggestion. All ideas are welcome, and your recommendation might become part of this year's excursion!

The questionnaire closes on Sunday 8 February.

Today at Coffee & Friends: Speed Friending

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. 

Coffee & Friends programme:

• 10.2. Valentine’s Day Crafts 
• 17.2. Relaxing and Colouring
• 24.2. Bingo 

Whole spring’s programme will be updated on ISYY’s webpage as the planning progresses.

After Sports Bingo Joensuu

After Sports Bingo at Ticorillo (Amarillo) on Tuesday 17.2. at 6pm!

1, 2, 3, Bingo! After Sports Bingo by ISYY on Sports Afternoon Tuesday 17.2. at 6pm in Ticorillo! The first Bingo round starts at 6:45 and the second one at 7:45, tickets on sale now at kide.app 2€ (+ Kide.app service fee 0,55€). Every participant gets overall patch and for the best in Bingo super prices from coffee to goodie bag - come, experience and win!

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

Valentine’s Day Event

This year, we are organizing a Valentine’s Day sports and exercise event on Saturday 14.2. The event includes a variety of group exercise classes, ranging from gentle body care sessions to high-intensity challenge workouts. After the group exercise sessions, there will also be a traditional badminton match. Here is the registration form for the match.

The program features familiar classes as well as many workouts designed especially for this event. You can relax in a sound bath session or challenge yourself with a 500-repetition workout. The schedule also includes partner workouts, which you can do either with a partner or on your own.

You may bring one friend or a family member who is not a SYKETTÄ user. Welcome to spend an active Valentine’s Day together!

What: Valentine’s Day sports  event
Where: Länsikatu School
When: Saturday, 14.2. from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Sports Afternoon 17.2.2026

Sports afternoon of spring 2026 will be held on Tuesday 17.2.2026. 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 sticker is not required to participate in Sports Afternoon.

All classes and turns in SYKETTÄ sports calendar on 17.2. 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.

During the Sports Afternoon, it is also possible to take part in physical activity tests.

You can choose either a low intensity tests or active exercise tests. The fitness tests will be held at Joensuu Arena. More information about the Sports Afternoon events can be found on the SYKETTÄ website and on Instagram.

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.

Winter Classic 18.2.2026

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.

Join us to watch, support the teams, and enjoy a free sports event!

What: Ice hockey match between Joensuu’s higher education institutions

Where: PKS Arena, Kisapolku 4

When: Wednesday, February 18th at 6:30 PM

Cost: Free entry for everyone!

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!

Interested in discovering Finnish culture through dance?

Join our dance course, specially designed for international students from Riveria, SAKKY, Karelia, Savonia, and UEF in Joensuu and Kuopio. You’ll learn traditional Finnish social dances you might see at Finnish dance events and summer pavilions. You’ll find out what to expect at these events, practise a bit of Finnish in real situations, and connect with fellow students in a fun and welcoming environment.

The course is free for participants. Sign up by 24 February!

Pop-up dinners on university campuses: Joensuu Kampus Bistro 12 February

Come along to enjoy great company and to taste delicious menu created by Food & Co culinary chefs for only 10 euros (non-students 12 €). Feel free to join us on your own or with friends – every table welcomes both familiar faces and new acquaintances.

Calls for Application for Outgoing Student Exchange have been posted!

The next application period for outgoing exchange opens soon!

During this application period, students may apply for Erasmus+, YUFE, Nordplus/Nordlys or bilateral exchange.

The application period ends on Feb 16 at 3 pm sharp.

Read more about available programmes in the calls for applications on Kamu and fill in the application form on SoleMOVE. For more information, please see the Study Abroad section on Kamu!

Remember to cancel any unused EXAM visits – responsible booking benefits everyone!

An exam visit gives you flexibility and the opportunity to take your exam at a location that suits you – even in another city. This service makes studying easier and offers more options, but available seats are limited.

Please keep these in mind:

• An exam visit is an additional service, not an automatic right – a seat cannot always be guaranteed at your preferred time.
• The service is free for you, but the university pays for every reservation – including unused ones.
• So please cancel any unused reservation in the EXAM system – this frees the slot for another student.

Thank you for acting responsibly – it improves exam opportunities for all students!

Ski bus from Joensuu to Koli

During the winter season on weekends from 14 February to 5 April, the Ski Bus operates from Joensuu to Koli. The bus route runs via Marjala, Noljakka, Niinivaara and the city centre, continuing through Lehmo towards Koli.

The bus stops in Koli village, at the lower station of the ski slopes, and near the Koli peaks at the courtyard of Ukko Nature Centre and Break Sokos Hotel Koli.

Please purchase tickets in advance from Matkahuolto’s website; tickets are not sold on the bus.

Winter Market Day 14.2.2026

Welcome to enjoy a joyful Winter Day for the whole family at Joensuu Market Square on Valentine’s Day, Saturday 14 February 2026, 8-16.

The event will feature vendors, exhibitors, and activities for all ages.

YUFE Online Language Cafés are back!

Looking to improve your foreign language skills in a relaxed, international way? The YUFE Online Language Cafés (OLCs) meet once a week for 90 minutes, moderated by a student tutor, and focused on real life communication and interaction.

Each week, you’ll explore a new topic with other language learners from across Europe. No pressure, just conversation.

• Languages available: Dutch - English - French - German - Spanish
• Deadline: 8 February
• Courses start: Week of 16 February
• Courses are held online via our Virtual Campus.

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.