Happy Tuesday!

The evenings are getting darker since it's already October. Now during the dark, it’s almost impossible for drivers to spot pedestrians or people riding a bike without a reflector, especially outside the city centre. Get yourself one or two and wear them on your jacket and bag so you can be seen when you're outside in the evenings!

Also, cyclists need to get lights for their bike to improve their visibility. It's mandatory to have a red tail light and a white/yellow front light when you ride at dusk or in the dark. This is required by law, and you will get a fine if you’re spotted without the bike lights. You can get a bike light set from any major supermarket.

Have a nice week!

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

P.S. This week's newsletter covers weeks 41 and 42. The Weekly Feed isn't published next week because of the autumn holidays.

Exceptions in ISYY office opening hours

Here are the upcoming exceptions to ISYY Joensuu offices opening hours in October 2025: 

• Autumn Holiday week 42 (13.-17.10.2025): CLOSED

Apply as a Student Representative by Monday 13 noon!

Do you want to participate in UEF decision-making as a student representative, or as we say “halloped”, and represent all students of UEF? This could be your chance! As a student representative you'll gain great experience of administration work and decision-making, get monetary compensation when attending the meetings, and you can later apply for ETCS's from these positions.

We are searching representatives for the following bodies:

• UEF Board
• UEF Collegiate Body
• UEF Faculty Councils

In UEF administrative bodies Student Representatives promote students’ point of view in the decision making and also bring matters that are important for students into public debate. They also have a right to make proposals and motions in the bodies. If your first language is not Finnish, UEF will organise interpretation services for you.

Interested? Read more from ISYY website, get to know the application calls and apply by Mon 13 October at 12 pm (noon).

ISYY Association Days 21-22 October

ISYY is organising the traditional Association Days, in which Student Associations, ISYY clubs and Campus Associations present their activities and events!  ISYY Association Days are open for everybody and there's no entrance fee.

In Joensuu campus Association Days are in Carelia lobby on Tuesday and Wednesday 21.–22.10. at 10–14.

It’s also possible that you’ll find some new activities or maybe new hobbies from Association Days! Many associations usually sell their own merch, e.g. overall patches.

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

What ISYY Council, what Representative Council Elections?

The Representative Council is the highest decision-making body of the Student Union, consisting of 39 members of ISYY. The members of the Representative Council are elected in elections held every two years. Every member of ISYY has the right to vote in these elections, meaning that students choose the members of the Representative Council from among the students who stand as candidates.

Your vote matters. Advance voting will take place from 27 to 31 October 2025, and the official election day is 6 November 2025.

136 candidates for ISYY's Representative Council elections

This year, a total of 136 candidates from 11 different candidate lists are nominated in the Representative Council Elections of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY).

Compared to the previous Elections in 2023 and 2021, the number of candidates and lists has increased. In the 2023 elections there were 113 candidates and 9 candidate lists, and during the 2021 elections there were 128 candidates and 10 candidate lists. All candidates and their numbers are published on ISYY's website.

Come to follow ISYY's Electoral Panels!

ISYY will hold Electoral Panes for Representative Council Election candidates in Joensuu on Monday 20 October and in Kuopio on Tuesday 21 October. During the panel, candidates will answer questions concerning different themes either in Finnish or English. Also, the audience can ask their questions during the event. Additionally, you can send your questions beforehand via this Google Forms.

Electoral Panel in Joensuu: Monday 20 October at 12-13 in Carelia lobby.

Come to the panel discussion and learn more about the candidates - because you decide who decides. Coffee and candies will be served and you can get an free overall patch if you come!

Campaigning Days of the Candidates

Who are the candidates? How can you know who's the best candidate for YOUR vote? Come to meet candidates on their campaigning days on campuses!

Campaigning days in Joensuu:

• Tue-Thu 14.-16.10.2025, from 10 am to 2 pm, Carelia lobby
• Mon 20.10.2025, from 10 am to 2 pm, Carelia lobby
• Mon-Wed 27.-29.10.2025, from 10 am to 2 pm, Carelia lobby
• Thu-Fri 30.-31.10.2025, from 10 am to 2 pm, Natura lobby
• Tue-Thu 4.-6.11.2025, klo 10-14, from 10 am to 2 pm, Carelia lobby 

Autumn break week

During week 42 (October 13–19, 2025), guided classes will be on break due to the autumn holiday week. The gyms and badminton turns will be available as usual. Additional badminton sessions have also been added at Mehtimäki Hall from Tuesday to Friday. You can find the up-to-date information and schedules in the sports calendar.

Floorball League - Säbäliiga

Floorball is one of the most popular team sports in Finland. The student floorball league on the Joensuu campus, better known as Säbäliiga, is the biggest student league organized by volunteers. The Floorball League moves around 250 students on the Joensuu campus.

Recruit your friend and enroll for the series now, games will start in the last week of October. Each player needs either SYKETTÄ ball sports or group exercise sticker. Team fee for season 2025–2026 is €75.

Welcome to Säbäliiga!

Major Service Interruption in Peppi 15th-16th October 2025

Due to the installation of Peppi version 5.3, there will be a service interruption from 15th to 16th October 2025. To anticipate the service interruption, do these on 14th October at the latest, if needed:

• Complete your registration for the course units and exams on Peppi, on Tuudo or on EXAM.
• Check and save teaching timetables and links for remote lectures (e.g. teams, zoom). Teaching timetables can be seen on Tuudo during the service interruption.
• Download your transcript of records or study certificate on Peppi.

Student Survey: Turnitin – Helpful or Pointless? Share Your Thoughts!

Turnitin – have you used it? Did it help you, or was its value unclear? Now’s your chance to tell us how Turnitin has impacted your studies – and whether it’s truly needed.
 
The survey explores the perceived benefits of Turnitin, the desired features, and its role in supporting learning. It’s your opportunity to influence future decisions! Completing the survey takes 5–10 minutes, and all responses are anonymous.
 
The survey is open from October 6 to October 26, 2025: Student survey: Experiences with the Turnitin plagiarism detection system. Thank you for raising the student voice!

Win Tickets to Lehtiä Ilosaaressa event!

Want to experience the autumn vibes at the Lehtiä Ilosaaressa event? Join our ticket raffle by filling out the online form by Friday, October 10th at 12:00. Winners will be contacted on Monday, October 13th. Raffle is organized by UEF University Services.

Towards Working Life in Eastern Finland

International students may now access a new, free-of-charge online course Towards Working Life in Eastern Finland (MOOC). The course is offered by Talent Hub Eastern Finland. 

The self-study course helps students get familiar with working life, culture and recruitment practices in eastern Finland, as well as use tools for competence recognition and professional development. 

You can find more information on th and register yourself on the course on DigiCampus. Course key: MOOC.

You may complete the online course independently at your convenience. Welcome to the course!

Save the date: International Week is coming!

International Week is coming on Tue-Fri 21–24 October. During the week, International Mobility Services will organize exchange info sessions and info desks on both campuses. Schedules will be updated closer to the event, so keep an eye out on Kamu’s event page and Viva Engage!

Get help to your career planning!

Mentoring can help you find your strengths and areas for development and encourage you to take on new challenges. Also, the mentors can get new energy and fresh perspectives on their work through students and other talents (actors).

 By taking part in the mentoring program, you will improve your skills and knowledge in

• job search and getting to know different career options and paths
• exploring interesting employer organisations
• developing professional expertise and finding your strengths
• communication and interaction with others
• building professional networks
• developing self-confidence and self-knowledge

Application for mentoring program is open until 31.10.2024. International students and other talents affiliated in Eastern Finland are eligible to apply. However, priority in intake will be given to students with approx. one year or longer experience in studying in Finland. Thus, if you have just started your studies in Finland this autumn, you should wait for one year, and give the opportunity for those who are closer to their graduation and the start of their professional career.

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, 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 aim is to check your health status and refer you to the appropriate services as early as possible at the beginning of your studies.

MIELI Crisis Helpline  extends its opening hours

The new opening hours are:

• Mondays: 4 pm to 8 pm
• Thursdays: 9 am to 1 pm
• Fridays: 9 am to 1 pm

MIELI Mental Health Finland provides crisis assistance and support in order to prevent mental health problems and suicides. MIELI Crisis Helpline allows you to discuss your thoughts, feelings and situation in life with a crisis worker or a trained volunteer, for example all kinds of traumas, divorces, issues in the family or drug abuses.  You can call the crisis helpline anonymously and confidentially.

Join YUFE Friend activities

It's time to sign up for the YUFE Friend programme again! YUFE Friend allows a local person or family to become friends with a UEF student or employee who has moved to Finland - and vice versa.

We are looking for two types of people interested in mutual cultural exchange:

1. local people or families who are interested in sharing everyday life in Finland and getting to know new people

2. UEF students and staff members (and their families, if any) who have recently moved to Finland and would like to meet local people and learn more about life in Finland.

Read more in the brochures provided in this Viva Engage post and Register by 20 October!

For more information on YUFE Friend activities, contact:

Kirsi Karjalainen (050 462 1267, kirsi.karjalainen@uef.fi)

Night of Horror – Halloween party

Monsters and mutant minds of Joensuu! Get ready to enter a terrifying world where Halloween is darker than ever! On Wednesday 29.10. Bepop & Tombolo ry will host a traditional interdisciplinary Halloween party, but this time the spooky atmosphere will take you to the middle of a foggy world. Come and experience the wildest party of the autumn, if you dare!

• WHAT? Interdisciplinary Halloween party
• WHERE? Bepop Joensuu, Siltakatu 8
• WHEN? October 29th at 10pm-5am
• WHAT DOES IT COST? 5/6€
• DRESS CODE: Halloween costume (+ overalls)

Ticket sales start on Kide.App on Wednesday, October 22nd at 1pm!

EPIS Conference 2025 on 15 November

EPIS Think Tank is a youth-led network on European foreign and security policy. Applications are open for the EPIS Conference 2025, taking place online on 15 November 2025.

The Conference provides students with the opportunity to present their theses or research projects in small thematic panels, allowing for a stimulating exchange of perspectives.

• Audience: Undergraduate and graduate students in international relations, security studies and related fields
• The core of the event: Present research (10-minute talk) + 20-minute discussion with peers and experts
• How to participate? You can register for the event here
• The official language of the conference is English, and participation is free of charge. 

Why should I participate?

• Gain experience presenting research in an international academic setting
• Receive constructive feedback from experts and peers
• Engage in stimulating discussions on international relations and security policy
• Build connections with students, researchers, and professionals across Europe

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.