Happy Tuesday!

Welcome to the 2026 spring semester! ISYY is back at your service after the holidays.

As an ISYY member, you can borrow sports equipment, such as ice skates, from the ISYY office. Check out Kuopio's selection on our website. You can find a list of places where to skate from Kuopio city's website. Remember to dress warmly, if you exercise outdoors! If you prefer indoor exercise, check out SYKETTÄ Sports Services' group exercise calendar and consider buying a membership for the spring semester. You can try out the SYKETTÄ classes for free this week! Just create an account and sign up to the lessons via the SYKETTÄ website.

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs and Administration

ISYY office in Kuopio

• Yliopistonranta 15 (Studentia Building, entrance, door C), P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 KUOPIO, FINLAND
• toimisto.kuopio(at)isyy.fi
• Tel. +358 (0) 44 576 8419

Opening hours:

• Mon, Tue: 10–12, 13–15
• Wed: 12–16
• Thu: 10–12, 13–15
• Fri: closed

Office services:

• Purchase SYKETTÄ University Sports Services membership
• Term sticker for plastic student card
• Book exchange shelf
• ISYY student calendar
• Sports equipment loans
• Board game loans
• ISYY and UEF merchandise for sale
• Second-hand kitchenware for sale
• Customer service in English

The start of ISYY’s Language Café activities in spring 2026 is nearing!

Do you want to learn a new language, brush up on your old skills and meet new people or for example teach your native language to other students? Language Cafés are the perfect opportunity for you! You can also gain ECTs from the activity, whether you are participating as a learner or as a teacher.

The idea of the language cafés is to provide an informal platform for students to both learn and teach languages in a relaxed manner. If you complete a couple of assignments during the Language Café -activities, you can earn 1 ECTS as a participant and 2 ECTS as a teacher of a café.

Join the Language Café info session on Wednesday 21 January from 9 am to 10 am on Google Meet to find out more!

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 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 from 27 January forward at 3-5pm at Lukema in Kuopio. Spring’s programme will be updated on ISYY’s webpage in January.

Tell us who should receive a recognition from ISYY

You can now suggest a candidate to receive a recognition at the ISYY Annual Celebration this spring! Suggestions must be sent by 18 January.

Every member and alumni of ISYY has the right to suggest a person to receive a Medal of Honor, Golden or Silver Medal of Distinction and Medal of the Student Union. The delivered suggestions will be forwarded to ISYY’s Committee for Recognitions and they will prepare the suggestion for the ISYY Executive Board. The final decision of the acknowledgements will be made by the ISYY Executive Board.

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):

• Thu 15.1. at 5 pm Kärmes (board game club)
• Sun 18.1. at 1 pm UEF Student Bible Club
• Tue 20.1. at 5 pm Kärmes (board game club)
• Sun 25.1. at 1 pm UEF 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

Free Sports Week 12–18 January 2026!

This week, you can sign up for any classes you like and explore our selection for free! (Excludes Luola gym and trainer services).

How to join:

• Register as a user at SYKETTÄ Kuopio website (if you haven't already). 
• Check out our spring's group exercise and ball sports schedule. 
• Log in to the website or app and sign up for your preferred classes via the booking calendar. During the Free Sports Week, signing up costs nothing!

SYKETTÄ Kuopio newsletter

In January's newsletter:

• Free sports week
• Spring sports fees
• Group sports and ball sports selection
• Nutrition services and sports advice
• Courses
• Upcoming events
• SYKETTÄ mascots

Registration for spring 2026 ends 15 January 

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.

Student Tutors Needed for Next Autumn Semester! 

Would You Like to Be a Student Tutor?

Apply to be a tutor! If you study in a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree programme at UEF and are interested in helping the new students in Autumn Semester 2026, you can apply as a student tutor.

The student tutor helps the new students to have a smooth start for their studies. All the new students have a student tutor. And each tutor has a group of tutees. Tutoring offers many opportunities to learn, for example to develop your communication and coordinating skills. The tutors will be trained for the job, and they will receive credits and a certificate on tutoring.  

The application period starts on 19 Jan. 

If you study in a Bachelor or a Master's Programme and are interested in volunteering as a student tutor for next Autumn Semester – Come and Learn About Tutoring at Our Pop-up Points!

Tutor Recruitment Starts on January 19. Would you like to know what a student tutor does and what it’s like to be a student tutor? Or are you wondering how tutoring can support your studies? Now you have the chance to ask and chat with us!

At the pop-up points, you can:

• ask about tutoring and the role of a tutor
• get more information about the tutor recruitment process
• hopefully hear experiences from current tutors

Where and when?

• Mon Jan 19, 11:00–13:00 at Canthia
• Tue Jan 20, 11:00–13:00 at Snellmania (at the same time as Working life pop-up!)
• Wed Jan 21, 11:00–13:00 at Carelia
• Thu Jan 22, 10:30–12:00 at Futura

Come and say hi on campus! You’ll get information, tips, and answers to all your questions about tutoring.

Working life pop up by UEF Career Services

• Tuesday, 20 January
• from 11:00 to 13:00
• The ground-floor entrance halls of Carelia and Snellmania

Are you wondering how to accumulate work experience?

Join us to generate alternative ways to gain more working life experience!

UEF Trainee 2026 Positions are now open!

UEF Trainee Programme provides paid internship placements to international degree students (bachelor´s and master´s students) of UEF. In the programme, international degree students have a chance to work at placements provided by our collaborators for two months (or four months half time).

The application period is open until 30th January 2026 (by 16.00 hours Finnish time). You can apply simultaneously, in the order of your preference, up to three different placements by using application form. The selection of candidates is done by the provider (employer) of the training position. You can see the open positions here. The training can be done anytime during the year 2026.

To be eligible, you need to be registered to one of UEF degree programs as an active student when you apply. You are still eligible if you graduate before or during your training period.

Enrolment to the Pathways to Career Competence and Networks, 2 ECTS, course is now open!

Talent Hub Eastern Finland project is recruiting students to join Future Talents team. The main goal of the team is to foster cooperation between international study programmes, local companies, and organizations to create collaboration such as internships, project work, case studies and thesis topics. In a way, the Future Talents team works as a representative of the university by marketing and selling the skills and expertise of study programs and students.

Being part of the team begins by completing 2 credits orientating course Pathways to Career Competence and Networks. Successful completing will open the possibility to participate in the Future Talents Team project (3 ECTS) later on the spring. Timing of the course is 11.02.2026 – 24.03.2026.

Who can apply? The course is mainly targeted for students of international degree programmes (bachelor´s and master´s) also doctoral researchers can apply (max intake 40).

Student, find power and purpose for your career and register to career planning and job seeking courses for the spring 2026!

Are you wondering about your future? Where will I find work? How will I be convincing in the job interview? What can I do with my degree? What are my strengths? Am I in the right field? What should I study as a minor subject? What rights and obligations do I have as an employee?

Students pondering about their future directions or seeking traineeships and employment are troubled by many questions. Nevertheless, don’t worry! Practical guidance, knowledge and support is there for you on the career planning and job seeking courses offered by UEF Career Services.

New Opening Hours of Kuopio Campus Library

The Kuopio Campus Library will adopt new opening hours starting from 7 January 2026. During the spring semester, the library will be open from Monday to Wednesday as before, from 8 to 18 (customer service from 10 to 18). On Thursdays and Fridays, however, the library will close earlier, at 16 (customer service is open from 10 to 16). 

Saturday opening hours will also change. In May, the Kuopio Campus Library will be closed on Saturdays. Until then, the library will continue to serve customers on Saturdays from 10 to 14. 

Minor changes to campus restaurant meal prices starting 1 January 2026

Due to the regulation on meal subsidies and changes in value-added tax, adjustments have been made to lunch restaurant meal prices as of January 1, 2026.

• The price of student lunches remains unchanged.
• Staff and guest meal prices will increase slightly.
• Other prices have been slightly adjusted due to the VAT change.

NyytiCoaching

Would you like to get support to identify your working life expectations and career goals? Would you like to receive coaching to find your own potential?

Come and join NyytiCoaching! The call for applications is open now. The coaching process includes three free of charge meetings with certified coach. Coaching is aimed at students in the final stages of their studies at universities and universities of applied sciences, as well as doctoral students throughout Finland.

Latino Rhythm Experience event on 13 January at 5 pm at Kuopio City Theatre

Program:

• 17:00 Planning the next multicultural event Yhdessä Kuopiossa
• 18:00 Quick and easy dance lessons from different Latin rhythms
• 19:30 Free dancing and having a good time together

The dance lessons are intended for all participants, including families.
The good atmosphere and music at the event is created by DJ Da2s. Each participant can request their favorite song from the DJ.

Free entrance!

Want to Learn Finnish?

Join our Finnish Language Learning Info Session and learn more about:

• Study options and language courses
• Practical tips for learning Finnish effectively
• Available support for immigrants
• Where: TyöNavigaattori, Asemakatu 7
• When: 14 January 2026 | 14:00–15:00
• Language: English

Please register via the QR code.

Best of Bollywood 15.1.

Best of Bollywood makes its grand symphonic debut in Finland, presenting iconic songs from Indian Bollywood style performed by international Bollywood stars and a full symphony orchestra.

The evening promises to be an epic and unforgettable experience, captivating the audience and transporting them to the golden age of Bollywood. This concert showcases a rich variety of Bollywood styles from 1947 to the present day, highlighting how the genre has evolved over the decades.

Tickets only 10,60 € for students!

Freestyle or die – open mic

• Fri 16.1. at 8 pm in Pannuhuone Gust.Ranin (Kauppakatu 25).
• Freestyle rap jams for everyone. First-timers and veterans alike are welcome to participate and watch. Rappers can expect entertaining challenges and topics from the audience.
• Free admission.

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.