Happy Tuesday!

There are currently multiple surveys ongoing at ISYY. By answering the member survey, you can tell us how familiar you are with our Union and its services, rate our services and also give feedback on how to improve our services and activities. ISYY also has an ongoing survey regarding bullying within the university community. The aim of this survey is to gain a better overall understanding of the prevalence and nature of bullying at the university.

ISYY offices are closed Thu–Tue 2–7 April due to Easter. Regarding equipment loans, if the return date falls on a day when the office is closed, the loan period is automatically extended to the next day when the office is open. SYKETTÄ Sports Services will also be on Easter break from April 2–8, in line with UEF’s Easter holiday. Check their sport schedule changes below!

Have a wonderful week!

Kind regards,
Timi
Membership Service Specialist

Upcoming exceptions in ISYY office opening hours

ISYY offices are closed:

• Thu–Tue 2–7 April due to Easter

In equipment loans, if the return date falls on a day when the office is closed, the loan period is automatically extended to the next day when the office is open.

Answer to the ISYY member survey and win a 50€ gift card to S Group!

What do you think ISYY should focus on? How has the service been in the Student Union office? Do you know what you get as you pay the membership fee to ISYY? How ISYY could improve its office services or communications? Tell us!

The Student Union of Eastern Finland (ISYY) has launched a member survey, which purpose is to collect information about how familiar our members are with the Student Union and its services, to collect feedback about our services and also ideas how to improve our services and activities.

The survey is open until the end of 19 April 2026 and all those who answered can join a raffle where we will hand out total of eight 50,00 € gift cards to S Group, four on both of our campuses.

ISYY awarded recognitions at the 16th Annual Celebration!

The 16th Annual Celebration of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY) was held 21 March 2026 in Joensuu. At the Celebration ISYY awarded distinguished Student Union actors according to its Symbol Regulations. ISYY members have also had a change to suggest, who should receive a recognition!

This year ISYY awarded two Medals of Honour, one Golden Medal of Distinction, one Silver Medal of Distinction and two Medals of the Student Union. In addition to the awarded Medals the Student Union also awarded 17 Diplomas of Honour.

The Medals of Honour were awarded this year for Jukka Mönkkönen and Emilia Enroth (in the picture). ISYY warmly congratulates all who received a recognition this year!

Photo taken by Klavdia Parkkonen.

ISYY Association Days next week!

Looking for a new hobby, community, or maybe some awesome overall patches? ISYY’s Association Days brings together student associations, clubs, and other student organisations on campuses – this is your chance to explore them, and learn what they have to offer!

Where & when?

• Joensuu: 31 March & 1 April, in Carelia lobby
• Kuopio: 1 April, in Snellmania lobby
• On both campuses from 10 am to 2 pm

The event is free, and you can drop by between lectures or during lunch. Grab a friend and come to network with us!

Earth hour 28.3.

ISYY encourages its members to participate in the global WWF’s environmental campaign called Earth Hour! Earth Hour traditionally includes switching off lights simultaneously in different parts of the country. Switching off the lights is a symbolic gesture to show concern for the climate and environment, and to demand action from decision-makers. 

Earth Hour will be celebrated on Saturday, 28 March 2025, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM. According to polls, approximately 1.5 million Finns annually express their concern about the state of the environment by participating in Earth Hour. Hundreds of organizations across the country, from educational institutions to companies and from municipalities to organizations, also participate in the event. Join in!

ISYY Representative Council Meeting's Decisions 1/2026

The Representative Council of ISYY held its first meeting of 2026 on Sunday 1 March as part of the Council’s training weekend.

In its meeting the Representative Council decided e.g. the amount of remuneration for the Chairpersons of the Council, and appointed members for the Rules Committee and Finance Committee. ISYY Executive Board has established a working group to update ISYY’s Equality Plan, and two representatives were appointed to this group. ISYY Council also elected Hannele Mirola as ISYY’s new Secretary General.

The meeting featured lively discussion about establishing an International Committee, but the ISYY Council tabled the proposal in order to prepare it more thoroughly.

ISYY club meetings

Check the list of ISYY clubs in Kuopio on our website.

ISYY clubs' meetings at Lukema (ISYY office in Studentia, C door):

• Sun 29.3. at 1 pm USBC (University Student Bible Club)
• Sun 5.4. at 1 pm USBC (University Student Bible Club)
• Sun 12.4. at 1 pm USBC (University Student Bible Club)

SYKETTÄ Sports Services

SYKETTÄ – Kuopio University Sports offers a comprehensive range of sports services for students and staff of Savonia University of Applied Sciences and the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus. Please read the SYKETTÄ Kuopio information. Read more on the SYKETTÄ Kuopio website and follow SYKETTÄ on social media:

• SYKETTÄ Kuopio webpage
• Facebook: sykettakuopio
• Instagram: @syketta_kpo
• TikTok: syketta_kuopio

Studentia building Access Code

In the future, access to Studentia’s sports facilities will be managed via an access code found in the mobile app. Please update your app to the latest version to ensure the code is visible.

NHL Hockey Day Finland in Kuopio 27.-28.3. 

Friday 27 March is an evening event for higher education students "Student Night" from 4 Pm to 9 PM at Kuopio market place.

The program includes disc jockey, show games and NHL-Appro.

More information from SYKETTÄ Kuopio facebook and instagram

www.facebook.com/sykettakuopio

Instagram: @syketta_kpo

Discover contemporary dance course

This course introduces the basic elements of contemporary dance through short movement sequences, spatial exercises, and improvisation. Movement is explored through a variety of tasks, using imagery, bodily awareness, and the surrounding space as starting points. Classes include floor work.

The course develops body awareness and provides an introduction to contemporary dance. No previous experience is required. Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement.

Classes are led by dancer and dance teacher Aino Vartiainen from Minimi Dance Theater

• Course is 3 x 1,5 h
• Tuesdays 21.4., 5.5. ja 12.5.  from 5.15 pm to 6.45 pm
• Enroll via reservation calendar day 21.4. Enroll ends 7th of April 
• Price is 12€/person

You must have a valid SYKETTÄ membership when using sports services!

• Buy the membership from the SYKETTÄ website's store or from ISYY office.
• You will also have access to nutrition and physical activity counselling.
• Find out more about our diverse services on the Member sevices webpage.

Service break in Peppi from 26th March 11 AM to 27th March 8 AM

Due to the installation of Peppi version 5.4, there will be a service break from 26 March 11 AM to 27 March 8 AM. To prepare for the service break, do these before 26 March 11 AM, 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 break.
• Download your transcript of records or study certificate on Peppi.

Niina Gråsten and Tiina Juurela receive the UEF Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Award 2026

University Teacher Niina Gråsten and Student Well-being Specialist Tiina Juurela have received the University of Eastern Finland’s Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Award 2026. They were recognised for their determined, expertly informed and human-centred efforts to promote awareness and understanding of neurodiversity at the University of Eastern Finland. An honourable mention was awarded to the academic subjects of home economics and craft science, which have made significant contributions to advancing cultural and linguistic awareness in research, education and societal interaction.

The award and the honourable mention were presented on the proposal of the UEF Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Committee, as part of the UEF Equality Day celebrations on Monday, 16 March 2026.

Have you experienced bullying in the university community? Answer to the survey

Bullying is a problem that affects society widely – including student communities. Unfortunately, many students experience bullying during their studies.

ISYY is surveying bullying within the university community. The aim of this survey is to gain a better overall understanding of the prevalence and nature of bullying at the university. The responses will help identify areas for development and find ways to reduce bullying and promote student wellbeing.

The results of the survey will primarily be used internally by ISYY, but the collected data may also be used in meetings with university staff responsible for harassment-related matters.

The survey is open until 7 April 23:59.

The application period for UEF Student Ambassadors for the academic year 2026–2027 is now open.

We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic students from diverse backgrounds to represent UEF in international marketing and student recruitment. Ambassador tasks include attending webinars and virtual events, participating in marketing and communication activities, and sharing your own experiences of studying and living in Finland with prospective students.
We are also recruiting a UEF Content Creator, whose main focus will be producing video and podcast content for applicant and student communications. All selected students will receive training before starting the role, and the positions are compensated.

If you enjoy meeting people, communicating openly and working independently, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Easter opening hours at the library

Joensuu and Kuopio campus libraries are open on Thursday 2 April from 8 am and 2 pm (customer service from 10 am to 2 pm) and closed from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April. 

The library’s 24/7 self-study facilities are open normally.  

KUH Medical Library’s last opening day is Thursday 2 April. The libarary is open from 11 am until 2 pm.

Shape the future of the European Student Card Initiative

Digital tools make it easier than ever to go on #ErasmusPlus mobility abroad. And you can help define how these tools should evolve in the next Erasmus+ programme. Your input will help identify priorities, challenges and future requirements for ESCI in the next Erasmus+ Programme (2028–2034). The consultation survey is open until 31 March 2026.

Coffee & Friends

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 programme. 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 at 3-5pm at Lukema. 

Coffee & Friends programme:

• 24.3. Quizzes 

• 31.3. & 7.4. Easter Holiday, no Coffee & Friends this week

Experience Finnish Vappu Celebration in Savo-Karjala Excursion!

Savo-Karjala Excursion is one of the most famous and popular May Day celebration traditions of the Student Union (ISYY). The first Savo-Karjala Excursion was organised in 1990. The event is held every year in Joensuu and Kuopio on 29 April despite the day of the week.

During the Savo-Karjala Excursion, students circle around the North Savo and the North Karelia regions on buses on a predetermined route, which will remain a secret until the buses start their journey, and enjoy refreshments in different bars and restaurants along the way.

To attend the event, it is not required that you can speak Finnish. The most important thing is that you and your friends have fun and you can keep up in the schedule of the bus. If there are English speaking people in the buses, we'll ask the bus leaders to give all the important information about the schedule in English.

Ticket sales start on Thursday 9 April 8 am at ISYY office (in Studentia building, C entrance, Yliopistonranta 15). The remaining tickets, if there are any, will go on sale on Kide.app on the same day at 1 pm. The ticket price is 20 €. One person can buy a maximum of two tickets.

Interdisciplinary CraftCinema in Kuopio on April 13th!

The interdisciplinary CraftCinema organized by Retikka, KuoLo and Kino Kuvakukkko, will gather lovers of crafts and culture together on April 13th at Kino Kuvakukkko at 5:30 PM! The screening will be presented in dimmed lighting, so that you can, for example, knit, crochet or sew overall patches while watching the film. However, crafting is not a criterion for participation – every movie lover is welcome! Ticket costs 10 € and ticket sales start on Kide.app on Monday 23.3. at 12:00!  You can find more information here.

INSPIRING IMMIGRANT WOMEN! Finnish for working life!

• Do you want to get more skills to tell about yourself and your talents in Finnish to employers?
• Do you want to get hints from where and how you can seek jobs in Finland?
• Do you want to practise and improve your skills to write a CV and an job application in Finnish and shine in interviews in Finnish?

Face to face teaching and practising. We meet at Fridays 20.3. 27.3., 10.3., 17.4., 24,4., 8.5., 15.5., 22.5,  29.5., 5.6. and 12.6.2026  klo 13.00-16.15.. Homeworks and coaching.

You are warmly welcome, if you are a female student from the university or the university of applied science, your Finnish skills are at a language level A2 and you do not have an in integration plan.

Ministry of Education funds this training for female fulltime student, 0€. If you wish, you can do a Kapos-skill badge. Please, take your student card with you.

How do international professionals build successful careers in Finland?

This is the central question behind the V.I.S.I.O.N Framework Series 2026 by Kuhoga Insights. For Episode 1, we will host Sudipta Chatterjee, who will share her journey from studying at Savonia University of Applied Sciences to becoming an Education Export Executive there. Through this conversation, we will explore the realities of navigating career opportunities as an international in Finland, including the challenges, turning points, and lessons that helped shape her professional path. This meetup is designed for international students, job seekers, and professionals who want inspiration and practical insights about building their careers in Finland.  

Tuesday 24 March 2026  14:30 – 16:00  Snellmania Building – Room SN101 UEF Kuopio Campus (Savilahti)

Weekly Feed is the English language newsletter of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY). You are receiving this letter in your email because you are a member of ISYY and are studying at Kuopio 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.