Happy Tuesday!

The annual food waste week is here again! ISYY did a little research on the amount of food waste in campus restaurants during a normal week. For example, at Tietoteknia, the amount of food waste during week 37 was as much as 114.7 kg, which equals to about 655 medium-sized bananas! Pretty wild amount, right? ISYY challenges all students to pay attention to the generation of food waste, especially in campus restaurants!

There wasn't anyone interested in hosting a Language Café in Kuopio so unfortunately there are no Cafés here this autumn. If you were looking forward to studying Finnish, you can attend the Language Café of Neulamäki library (Juontotie 6) instead. The next meetup is on 30 September at 5 pm and the Language Café is free. You can read more about the Library Language Café on Kuopio city library's website.

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs and Administration

Exceptions to ISYY office opening hours

Here are the upcoming exceptions to ISYY Kuopio office's opening hours in September and October 2025: 

• On Monday 29.9.: open at 13-15

• Sports Afternoon (Wed 1.10.2025): open 12-15
• Autumn Holidays week 42 (13.-17.10.2025): CLOSED

ISYY Council Meeting on 25 September at 5 pm

Are you curious to know what ISYY Council does? ISYY Representative Council will hold a meeting this week on Thursday 25 September at 5 pm. You are welcome to follow the meeting in classrooms or via the livestream on ISYY's YouTube channel.

In the meeting, the Representative Council will, among other things, elect new members to Rules and Finances Committees, discuss the location of ISYY Joensuu office and decide on accepting ISYY’s new policy paper.

The meeting is held in rooms N100 (Natura, Joensuu) and SN201 (Snellmania, Kuopio). The meeting notice can be found on the ISYY website.

Wanted: Student Representatives to UEF Administrative Bodies for the term 2026-2027

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 serching 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's advocacy coffees are starting up again!

ISYY advocacy coffee sessions will be organised in Kuopio at Lukema (ISYY office) on 7 October, 2025, from 4:00-5:00 PM.

All members interested in student advocacy are welcome to discuss with ISYY's board and student association representatives over coffee, tea, and light refreshments.

If you want to ensure there's enough coffee for you, please register your participation by October 6, 2025, at 11:59 PM by filling out the Google Forms registration form. You can also attend without prior registration!  Link to registration can be found in ISYY website!

Wellbeing Week

Wellbeing Week will be held for the twelfth time at the University of Eastern Finland from 29 September to 4 October 2025. The aim of the Wellbeing Week is to offer UEF students and staff a programme that promotes wellbeing throughout the week. During the week, a variety of activities will be organised to provide tools to increase one's own wellbeing and support the ability to concentrate.

The activities of the Wellbeing Week include, for example, the Finnish Kennel Club's Care Dogs visit to campuses and a lecture that is aimed at international students and offers tips on how to survive the Finnish winter and polar night. SYKETTÄ Sports Services will organise the traditional Sports Afternoon on Wed 1 October. The week will culminate with two separate day trips: from Kuopio to Tahko and from Joensuu to Patvinsuo National Park. The price of both day trips is 5€ and tickets are sold via Kide.app.

Association Days are coming in October!

ISYY’s Association Days brings together student associations, clubs, and other student organisations on campuses – it's a chance to explore new things and as a association or club, a good place to introduce your actions to new people!

Organisations and clubs can now register to event, read more from ISYY's website.

Where & when?

• Joensuu: 21–22 October, in Carelia lobby
• Kuopio: 22 October, in Snellmania lobby
• On both campuses from 10 am to 2 pm.

Coffee & Friends

This autumn’s Coffee & Friends starts today on both campuses! The café meets on Tuesdays at 3-5pm at Lukema in Kuopio.

Upcoming themes in Coffee & Friends:

• 23.9. Quizzes
• 30.9. Dream Board Workshop
• 7.10. Colouring & board games

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.

ISYY club meetings

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

• Sun 28.9. at 1 pm UEF Student Bible Club

• Fri 3.10. at 5 pm Kärmes (board game club)

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. All ISYY members are eligible to run as candidates. The current Council's term will end at the end of 2025, so it’s time to elect a new council!

The Representative Council elections are held electronically. Advance voting will take place from 27 to 31 October 2025, and the official election day is 6 November 2025.

Run as a candidate in ISYY’s Representative Council Elections – apply by 1 Oct!

How much is the ISYY's membership fee? Where is is spent? What will ISYY do in the future? These are all questions and decisions you can impact in the council! This is your chance to influence the most important matters of your student life. Check out your hand of cards and run as a candidate, maybe you'll cards will win.

You have until 1.10. 3 pm to nominate yourself as a candidate!

All users of SYKETTÄ Kuopio services must have a valid SYKETTÄ membership

 Please read the SYKETTÄ Kuopion 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

Autumn's sports afternoon on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, starting at 12:15! 

Take your student friends with you and get moving! This day is for students and staff, and participation does not require SYKETTÄ membership.

Registration for events generally opens on Wednesday, 24 September, i.e. 7 days before each event.

The programme offers a lot of diverse indoor sports and well-being, as well as outdoor activities in the fresh autumn weather. In addition to the sports afternoon, all classes in the SYKETTÄ calendar on that day are also part of the programme!

You can find more detailed instructions and the sports afternoon programme on our website.

Week 40 is SYKETTÄ Kuopio's free sports week, Kuopio's sports appro and Wellness week! 

During the free sports week (29.9. -5.10.), you can try out the services without a SYKETTÄ membership. Remember to register first on the SYKETTÄ Kuopio website and after that sign up for classes.

Sports appro: Get an appro pass from the ISYY office and collect marks by participating in SYKETTÄ classes or going to the gym. By returning the pass, you will receive an overall patch and participate in the prize draw. 

During the wellness week, SYKETTÄ Kuopio will organise Gentle Bare Yoga & breakfast with ISYY on Tuesday 30.9. Sign up from the SYKETTÄ reservation calendar on 30.9. for Gentle Bare Yoga class.

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 health examination for first-year students begins with the HealthStart questionnaire, the aim of which is to help you and healthcare professionals check your health status and refer you to the appropriate services as early as possible at the beginning of your studies.

Erasmus in Schools

Would you like to visit a Finnish school or daycare center while in Finland?

School visits can be carried out in any classes – in subjects such as languages, history, geography, sports, arts, cooking, biology, religion, and student counselling. You can also take part in a theme day organised by the local school, e.g., an international day.

Your school visit makes a difference to the pupils! You don't need to be a teacher, just a visitor bringing something new to the classroom. During the school visit, you will have a possibility to join lessons, present your country and broaden Finnish pupils' cultural awareness, and inspire them to study or volunteer abroad. You'll also gain insight into the Finnish education system.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed, and you'll receive a certificate of participation.

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. Register by 20 October!

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

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

For more information, please contact Kirsi Karjalainen, 050 462 1267, kirsi.karjalainen@uef.fi

Running club

The Not Fast Just Furious is a free running club organized by students operating in Kuopio! With the club, you can join our weekly runs and special events!

Whether you are experienced or still new, everyone is welcome. Routes are predetermined beforehand with different routes available for 5k and 10k runs.

Our first run will start on September 24 th at 5:00 PM, so come along to kick off the season with some energy! From then on, we'll meet every Wednesday at 5:00 PM in front of the university building Snellmania. You may always join in through mid-run along the route if you’re running late.

For more information visit our Instagram (@notfastjustfuriousrunclub), where you can also find a link to the WhatsApp group, where we share more information about our weekly runs and events! Or contact us via email (nfjfrunclub@gmail.com)!

We look forward to having you join our community!

Palapelit Traffic Light Party 25.9.

Grab your friends, pick your color from the traffic light theme and discover what (or who) lights up your night!

Special event of the night: Speed Dating! Also the best karaoke duos will win prizes!

What: Palapelit Traffic light party
When: Thu 25.9. starting at 21:00
Where: @ Bar Nousu
Tickets: KideApp 5€, at the door 6€
Dress code: Overalls & outfit matching your relationship status

Pre-sale tickets available now!

Join the “Osallistu yhdessä!” Group for Immigrants

Are you an immigrant living in Kuopio? Would you like to get to know Kuopio better and make new friends?

Come join the Osallistu yhdessä! group. Together, we’ll explore free and low-cost opportunities in Kuopio, such as: different services, hobbies, associations, nature and outdoor activities. The group is free of charge. We speak easy Finnish. Free snacks are also provided.

The group starts on 24 September at TyöNavigaattori, Asemakatu 7, 70100 Kuopio.

YhdistysApprot are back for the third time!

YhdistysApprot is organised as part of the SYKETTÄ Sports Afternoon on 1.10.2025 from 12:00 to 16:00. A free of charge and alcohol-free appro event for all univeristy students!
Come to YhdistysApprot and get to know many nonprofit organizations operating in the Kuopio and Northern Savonia areas in the form of a classic appro event, but partaking in various activities instead of a pub crawl!

Read more and register through Kide.app.

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.