Happy Tuesday!

Wellbeing Week of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and Student Union (ISYY) is celebrated this week on both campuses Joensuu and Kuopio! The purpose of the Wellbeing Week is to offer UEF's students and staff a programme that promotes wellbeing throughout the week. In addition, information about the importance of promoting wellbeing is shared during the week. If you're new in Finland, attend at least the polar night online lecture called "Kaamos survival" held by study psychologist Katri Ruth on Thursday 2 October at 3.15 pm and learn how to survive the dark Finnish winter.

Sports afternoon this Wednesday is also part of the Wellbeing Week and your Wednesday should be lecture-free starting from 12 pm. You might still find something to do for tomorrow from the SYKETTÄ calendar! Participation in the Sports Afternoon does not require SYKETTÄ membership. 

Have a nice week!

Kind regards,
Elina
Coordinator of International Affairs and Administration

P.S. Next week's newsletter covers weeks 41 and 42. The Weekly Feed isn't published on week 42 because of autumn holiday week.

Exceptions to ISYY office opening hours

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

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

ISYY nominates Emilia Enroth as a candidate for the Board of SYL for 2026

ISYY's Representative Council made the decision at their meeting on 25 September 2025. Emila Enroth has been the Chair of the Executive Board of the Student Union in autumn 2025, and formerly worked in sectors of academic affairs, environment and development cooperation as a member of the Board. Emilia is particularly focused on themes such as high-quality education, improving students’ housing conditions, and ensuring accessible education.

SYL represents Finnish university students at the national level and promotes students' interests.

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.

Compass Group offers throughout the Wellbeing Week

In Kuopio at Snellmania and Canthia restaurants:

• Morning porridge for only 1 € (from monday to friday during restaurants’ breakfast hours)

In all Compass Group campus restaurants:

• Overnights oats (chia-apple flavour) 2,60 €
• a small cup of nuts 2,70 €
• Snacks -10 % (quarks, yogurts, puddings and milkshakes, does not apply to protein bars)
• Smoothies and Fruities -10%

The offer cannot be redeemed at the self-service checkout.

ISYY Blog: Do I really belong here? – Honest thoughts about Impostor Syndrome

Did I succeed because of luck? Do I know enough? During the Wellbeing Week, it's a good idea to stop for a while to think why we might feel like impostors, since we rarely struggle with these thoughts alone. Emilia Kivikoski, board member of ISYY Executive Board, picked up their pen and opened up to us by writing a blog about the theme maybe familiar to many of us: impostor syndrome.

– My own journey to overcome impostor syndrome has been challenging, and it’s still not completely over. It’s a journey, not a destination, writes Emilia.

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 session 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!

ISYY Association Days are coming in few weeks!

In Association days, ISYY clubs, student associations and campus associations gather to campuses to present their activities. ISYY clubs and associations have an opportunity to recruit new active members and promote their events. Students participating in the event might find new hobbies.

In Kuopio campus, Association Days are in Snellmania lobby on Wednesday 22.10. at 10–14. ISYY Association Days are open for everybody and there’s no entrance fee.

ISYY club meetings

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

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

• Sun 5.10. at 1 pm UEF Student Bible Club

• Fri 10.10. 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.

Someone always decides so why wouldn't it be you? This is you chance to make an impact!

There's still time to run as a candidate, don't miss your chance to make a difference! The nomination period for the Representative Council elections ends tomorrow, on Wednesday 1 October at 15:00!

How much is the ISYY's membership fee? Where is it 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. Play your hand of cards and run as a candidate, maybe your cards will win.

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 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.

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 and Kuopio's sports appro! 

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.

New opening hours for MIELI Crisis Helpline

MIELI Crisis Helpline is now open on Mondays and Fridays.  MIELI Crisis Helpline (09 2525 0116) provides crisis assistance and discussion support in English for anyone living in Finland.

The new opening hours are:

• Mondays: 4 pm to 8 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 ex. all kinds of traumas, divorces, issues in the family or drug abuses.  You can call us anonymously and confidentially.

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

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:

• 30.9. Dream Board Workshop
• 7.10. Colouring & board games
• 14.10. Autumn holiday, no Coffee & Friends this week
• 21.10. Bingo
• 28.10. Halloween crafts

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.

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.

#KPOWEEKINENGLISH

Classical guitar in the library – tour in autumn 2025, Kuopio250-event

• Tue 30.9. at 17.30, Pyörö Library
• Thu 2.10. at 13, Nilsiä Library
• Fri 3.10. at 10, Puijonlaakso Library

Guitarist Mikko Siirola's concert tour showcases the rich tradition of classical guitar music. In addition to playing, Siirola will talk about the world of classical guitar and answer questions from the audience. Free admission.

Valoilmiö Light Event, Wed 1.10. at 18.30-20.30 in Savilahti, Kuopio250-event In honor of Kuopio's anniversary year, the evening's program includes a guided tour showcasing art and lighting installations, as well as performances by two artists: DJ Osmont and the folk music group Isot muskarilaiset. Free admission.

RIKKOMO – Aumala, Saikkonen, Salkosalo, 19.9.-12.10 at Galleria Ars Libera (Maaherrankatu 9), Kuopio250-event
A collective exhibition featuring installations, paintings, sculptures, and video art by three artists from Turku. Rikkomo invites viewers to step into the borderlands of experimentation and perception. Free admission. Open Wed–Sun at 13-17.

Welcome to Kuopio!

Are you new in Kuopio? Have you just started your studies or job, or still settling into your new life here?

Join us on October 8th at 16:00–17:45 at Kuopio City Hall (Tulliportinkatu 31) for a warm welcome event for all newcomers! Learn about life in Kuopio, meet local organizations and discover services that help you settle in. The event is:

• Family-friendly
• Free of charge
• Open to all newcomers

We can’t wait to meet you! Register for the event here.

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.