Happy Tuesday!

Vappu is approaching fast, but before the biggest student celebration of the year, it's time to give feedback. This week is ISYY's Smiles and Complaints week so now is the perfect time to tell us what deserves a smile and what could be improved at ISYY, UEF, FSHS and campus restaurants. 

And once you get started with giving feedback, you can also fill in ISYY's member survey - all those who answer the survey have a chance to win a 50 € gift card.

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs

Upcoming exceptions in ISYY Kuopio office opening hours

In spring, there will be the following exceptions:

• Tuesday 14 April: open 13–15
• Monday 27 April: CLOSED
• Tuesday 28 April: open 13–15
• Thursday 30 April (May Eve): CLOSED
• Mon–Fri 11–15 May: CLOSED
• Tuesday 26 May: open 13–15

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.

ISYY's Smile's and Complaints week is here!

Now it is time to give some feedback and acknowledgement once again! What recharges your batteries while studying? What is draining them? Tell us the positive and negative factors during Smiles and Complaints Week!

During the Smiles and Complaints Week, you can send anonymous feedback with an online form via ISYY to the University, FSHS (Finnish Student Health Service), campus restaurants, libraries or any other party involved in students' life. That includes us of course!

In addition to this, it is now possible to give feedback face-to-face to Board Members in both Kuopio and Joensuu:

• Joensuu: 15 April in Carelia lobby from 11 am to 12 pm
• Kuopio: 17 April in Snellmania lobby from 12 pm to 1 pm

What will ISYY's student calendar for the next academic year look like?

The student calendar of ISYY is carried along daily by many students of UEF. Next autumn your design might be the cover of our popular calendar!

Does your heart beat for graphic design, drawing or photography? Want fame and fortune? Now it is your chance to shine! Let loose your creative self and win a 100 € gift card to S-Group. The competition ends 14.5.2026.

Instructions for the competition and details of the design can be found from ISYY website.

Have you already answerd ISYY's Member Survey?

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.

Get the ISYY lyre for your student cap!

Did you know that you can purchase a lyre of the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY) to your student cap to symbolise your own university community?

Vappu (May Day) is soon and in Finland it is a tradition that students wear their student caps on Vappu Eve and Vappu Day. The standard lyre that can be seen in most of the Finnish student caps is a symbol for the Mariculation Examination, but it's also a symbol of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. There are also different lyres to symbolise, e.g. the Vocational Upper Secondary Qualification or the International Baccalaureate.

Student unions have their own lyres that symbolise the university community. A university student can purchase a lyre for their student cap to replace the old lyre.

ISYY lyre costs only 5,00 € and they are sold from ISYY offices!

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):

• Tue 14.4. at 5 pm Kärmes (Board Games Club)
• Sun 19.4. at 1 pm University Student Bible Club
• Mon 20.4. at 5 pm Kärmes (Board Games 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. You must have a valid SYKETTÄ membership when using sports services!

Read more on the SYKETTÄ Kuopio website and follow SYKETTÄ on social media:

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

Spring Campaign is Here – Gym Access at Luola is Now Included!

With a valid SYKETTÄ membership in April, you can train at the Luola gym with absolutely no extra fees. If you aren’t a SYKETTÄ member yet, you can join with just a few clicks in our online store.

For example, grab the SYKETTÄ Group Exercise Sticker (41 €) and enjoy unlimited sports until the end of August. If you start at the beginning of April, your wellbeing will cost you only about 30 cents a day!

You can also access the Spring Campaign benefits with:

• Ball Sports Membership (only 23 €)
• Monthly Membership (only 16 €)

Savon Sanomat is looking for an interviewee

Savon Sanomat (newspaper) is looking for a Hungarian student living in Kuopio for an interview about the recent election result of Hungary. If you're interested in being interviewed, please contact Tommi Turunen (tommi.turunen@savonsanomat.fi) as soon as possible.

Changes in UEF library services during the summer

This coming summer, the Joensuu and Kuopio Campus Libraries will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8 to 15, with customer service available from 10 to 15. On Wednesdays, we will be open as usual from 8 to 18, with customer service from 10 to 18.

For the first time, we will experiment with a summer closure at the Kuopio Campus Library during the quietest period in July, 6–26 July 2026. However, you will still be able to access the facilities with a 24/7 access badge. If you do not yet have an access badge, please make sure to get one in advance!

International House Kuopio – Multilingual Guidance and Counselling Service

International House Kuopio helps people who have moved to Finland. The service is available in Kuopio and nearby areas: Lapinlahti, Tuusniemi, and Kaavi. The service is free of charge and confidential. It is for all immigrants, no matter why you moved to Finland or how long you have lived here.

We give information and support for everyday life in Finland. You can ask for help with, for example:

• dealing with authorities (for example Kela, Migri, Tax Office and Digital and Population Data Services Agency)
• housing and moving
• education and studying the Finnish language
• job search and working life
• health, well-being, and social services
• free-time activities, hobbies, and volunteering
• early childhood education and school for children

Nyyti ry

Mindfulness Group

This short three-week English-speaking online group gives you a gentle introduction to mindfulness and how it can support your wellbeing in everyday student life. The group sessions will be held on Wednesday, May 20th - June 3rd, 2026 from 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm on Zoom. Free places are available for students via Nyyti. Application is now open for this group, so welcome to join!

The Eco-Crisis, Our Future and Mental health online course

The online course provides information on environmental emotions and strengthening mental health, as well as tools for dealing with environmental emotions, holding space for other people’s environmental concerns, and increasing understanding between people who think differently. Read more.

Mind Matters online course

The Mind Matters -online course offers tools and insights to help you promote your own mental health, interact more openly with your fellow students, and support the well-being of others. Read more.

Today at Coffee & Friends: SYKETTÄ

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:

• 14.4. SYKETTÄ
• 21.4. Quizzes (last Coffee & Friends this spring)

#KPOWEEK

Kuopio City Orchestra Open Rehearsal, Thu 16.4. at 12-13

• Music Center, Concert Hall
• Anna-Maria Helsing, conductor. Come enjoy a musical preview of the evening’s concert and watch as the program is finalized on the day of the final rehearsal. Free admission.

Yhdessä Kuopiossa World Rhythm Experience, Thu 16.4. at 17

• City Theatre, Niiralankatu 2
• 17:00 Planning the next multicultural event Yhdessä Kuopiossa. 18:00 Quick and easy dance lessons from different Latin rhythms. 18:30 Free dancing and having a good time together. The dance lessons are intended for all participants. Free admission.

Spring Exhibition 2026 – Get Inspired and Succeed Fri 17.4.–Sun 19.4.

• Kuopio Adult Education Center, Puistokatu 20
• At the Spring Exhibition you can admire the results of hundreds of hobbyists’ creating. On display is a wide selection of visual arts and crafts by both children and adults. Free admission.

International students in Kuopio – your voice matters!

Do you want to help shape the future of internationalisation in Kuopio? Join us for the Roadmap to Internationalization Development Workshop, a co-creation workshop where your experiences and ideas can directly influence local development.

Limited seats available so register by 16 April! Be part of the conversation and help build more inclusive Kuopio for international students together.

SFP-Kuopio’s charity flea market is here again on April 20th & 21st

What? The charity flea market is an event where anyone (yes, for example you there!) can bring their extra clothes and small items to be sold. The flea market operates on a “pay what you can” principle, and all proceeds will be donated to Gaza.

Come browse and shop your fellow students’ amazing wardrobes and enjoy our baked goods! (The rumour has it we might sell the best cookies in town…) You can also find Crafts4Gaza products here.

Where? In the main lobby of Snellmania

When? Monday and Tuesday, April 20th & 21st, from 10 AM to 3 PM

Details: You can bring clothes directly to the Snellmania lobby on Monday and Tuesday, April 20th & 21st, between 9 AM and 3 PM. You don’t need to register your donations, just show up with them. We will sell the clothes and small items you donate and donate the proceeds to Gaza. Any clothes and items that are not sold during the event will be donated to Kuopio’s Elävä kauppa.

Join our spring cleaning for a good cause! Hope to see you at the flea market!

Concert: Spring greetings from Berlin

Tue 28.4.2026 at 19.00
Kuopio Music Centre, Concert Hall

Conductors: Harri Hyppölä and Rauno Tikkanen
Johannes Lamotke, horn
AmKo Symphony Orchestra and Tahdistin Orchestra
The program features two horn concertos and Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73.

Duration: approx. 1 h 50 min, incl. intermission
Tickets: €15 / €5 for students and under 16 yo
(+ service fees from €1.50 + 0.65% per order at Lippu.fi)

Organized by: Kuopio Conservatory, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Tahdistin-orkesteri

Lets speak Suomi!

Welcome to Neulamäki Library (Juontotie 6) Language Café to learn to speak Finnish in a relaxed atmosphere on 28 April from 5 m till 6 pm.

Neulamäki Library Language Café is an open, relaxed event where you can practice speaking Finnish while playing board games. When you strike up a conversation, it’s easy to get to know new people and cultures.  Of course, you can also participate just by listening!

Library staff will also take part in the games and conversations to collect ideas for future gatherings.

So come along, bring a relaxed attitude and a smile! You can take your whole family with you if you like! No registration needed. Coffee and tea available.

Welcome to English Book Club!

We meet once a month to chat in English about a book, author, or literary theme we’ve chosen together. The books can be read in any language! At our first gathering, we’ll pick the books and themes for the spring. We are open to everyone, no registration required. Our book club is led by a volunteer who speaks English.

Feel free to join any sessions you like! Next meeting is on Wednesday 29 April from 17:30 to 18:30 at main library's (Maaherrankatu 12) learning space, 1st floor, at the back of children’s section (”Koulutustila”)

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.